ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Average Temperatures

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average temperature in London has been in each month of the past 10 years.

Ian Pearson: The following table contains temperature data for London for each month of the past 10 years, collected from the Meteorological Office's London site located in Holborn, on the Clerkenwell road.
	The three columns cover the average maximum temperatures recorded on each day in the month, the average of the minimum temperatures recorded on each day in the month, and the overall mean (that is, for the 24-hour period, averaged over all days in the month).
	
		
			   Average maximum (° C)  Average minimum (° C)  Mean (° C) 
			  1996
			 January 7.63 4.06 5.77 
			 February 6.84 1.51 4.19 
			 March 8.65 3.41 6.03 
			 April 14.07 7.02 10.54 
			 May 14.36 7.24 10.80 
			 June 21.69 12.88 17.29 
			 July 22.76 14.48 18.62 
			 August 21.89 14.75 18.32 
			 September 18.24 12.06 15.15 
			 October 16.15 10.62 13.38 
			 November 10.52 4.91 7.72 
			 December 6.82 2.87 4.84 
			 
			  1997
			 January 6.01 1.62 3.81 
			 February 10.64 5.41 8.03 
			 March 13.76 6.99 10.41 
			 April 15.04 6.80 10.92 
			 May 18.57 9.74 14.16 
			 June 19.73 12.62 16.18 
			 July 23.27 15.03 19.15 
			 August 25.98 17.77 21.87 
			 September 20.58 13.11 16.84 
			 October 15.77 9.08 12.43 
			 November 12.77 8.05 10.41 
			 December 9.66 5.34 7.50 
			 
			  1998
			 January 9.37 4.88 7.12 
			 February 11.88 5.92 8.90 
			 March 12.45 6.97 9.71 
			 April 12.94 6.85 9.89 
			 May 19.68 10.76 15.22 
			 June 20.02 12.87 16.45 
			 July 21.28 13.90 17.59 
			 August 23.26 14.28 18.77 
			 September 20.20 13.51 16.85 
			 October 14.52 9.67 12.10 
			 November 10.00 5.12 7.56 
			 December 9.98 5.13 7.55 
			 
			  1999
			 January 9.93 5.27 7.60 
			 February 9.04 4.16 6.60 
			 March 12.56 6.50 9.53 
			 April 15.22 7.95 11.59 
			 May 19.40 11.41 15.40 
			 June 20.37 12.52 16.45 
			 July 24.94 15.47 20.20 
			 August 22.76 15.27 19.01 
			 September 21.69 14.77 18.23 
			 October 15.92 9.65 12.78 
			 November 11.43 7.09 9.26 
			 December 9.01 4.11 6.56 
			 
			  2000
			 January 8.93 4.47 6.70 
			 February 10.73 5.40 8.07 
			 March 12.20 6.33 9.27 
			 April 13.50 6.77 10.13 
			 May 18.27 10.37 14.32 
			 June 21.52 14.00 17.76 
			 July 21.02 13.83 17.43 
			 August 23.46 15.45 19.46 
			 September 20.47 13.85 17.16 
			 October 14.92 9.70 12.31 
			 November 11.47 6.50 9.01 
			 December 9.40 6.06 7.73 
			 
			  2001
			 January 7.69 3.36 5.53 
			 February 9.42 3.89 6.66 
			 March 9.84 4.78 7.31 
			 April 13.04 6.63 9.83 
			 May 19.09 9.99 14.54 
			 June 20.80 12.77 16.79 
			 July 24.14 15.91 20.02 
			 August 23.62 15.68 19.65 
			 September 18.03 11.95 14.99 
			 October 18.04 12.63 15.33 
			 November 11.46 6.33 8.89 
			 December 7.75 3.08 5.41 
			 
			  2002
			 January 10.13 5.19 7.66 
			 February 11.53 5.99 8.76 
			 March 12.81 6.64 9.72 
			 April 15.85 7.50 11.67 
			 May 17.68 10.33 14.01 
			 June 20.62 12.87 16.74 
			 July 22.36 14.61 18.49 
			 August 23.51 15.85 19.68 
			 September 20.05 12.68 16.36 
			 October 15.11 9.54 12.32 
			 November 12.84 8.60 10.72 
			 December 9.34 6.00 7.67 
			 
			  2003
			 January 8.26 3.96 6.11 
			 February 8.97 3.25 6.11 
			 March 13.96 5.95 9.95 
			 April 15.70 7.56 11.63 
			 May 18.55 10.62 14.58 
			 June 23.47 14.81 19.14 
			 July 23.92 15.97 19.95 
			 August 26.13 16.89 21.51 
			 September 21.71 12.62 17.17 
			 October 14.21 7.87 11.04 
			 November 12.78 8.26 10.52 
			 December 9.32 4.94 7.13 
			 
			  2004
			 January 9.15 4.53 6.84 
			 February 8.96 4.91 6.93 
			 March 11.10 5.32 8.21 
			 April 15.39 8.16 11.78 
			 May 18.27 10.88 14.58 
			 June 22.09 14.12 18.11 
			 July 23.09 14.62 18.85 
			 August 24.17 16.20 20.19 
			 September 20.94 13.56 17.25 
			 October 15.45 10.34 12.90 
			 November 11.52 7.38 9.45 
			 December 9.47 4.88 7.18 
			 
			  2005
			 January 9.85 5.31 7.58 
			 February 7.68 3.52 5.60 
			 March 11.79 5.73 8.76 
			 April 15.15 7.81 11.48 
			 May 17.71 9.96 13.84 
			 June 22.74 14.02 18.38 
			 July 22.90 14.99 18.95 
			 August 23.05 14.29 18.67 
			 September 21.40 13.99 17.69 
			 October 17.80 12.34 15.07 
			 November 10.84 5.33 8.09 
			 December 8.55 3.98 6.26 
			 
			  2006
			 January 7.80 4.27 6.03 
			 February 7.35 3.09 5.22 
			 March 9.45 3.84 6.64 
			 April 13.94 7.40 10.67 
			 May 18.40 10.95 14.68 
			 June 23.71 14.27 18.99 
			  Note:  The values for April to June 2006 are provisional until the quality control of these data is completed.

Badgers

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment was made of the psychological effects on each badger captured in the recent field trials of badger body snares.

Ben Bradshaw: The study follows the principles laid down in the draft EU directive on humane trapping standards. These include an assessment of the behaviour of the animals as a measure of their psychological welfare. The assessment carried out during work on these methods, in pens, included continuous video monitoring of the animals to assess their welfare and behaviour. This was conducted prior to the start of the field trials. Such continuous monitoring is not carried out during field trials. Following completion of the trials and peer review a full report will be published by the end of the summer.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made towards the target of annual reductions of 3 per cent. of carbon dioxide emissions.

Ian Pearson: The Government do not have a target to reduce emissions by 3 per cent. per year.
	The policies and measures set out in the 2006 UK Climate Change Programme are currently projected to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions to 14 to 17 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. This would take us close to our domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010 and help to put us on a path towards our long-term target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by some 60 per cent. by about 2050, with real progress by 2020.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced on 29 June the UK's proposal for the next phase of the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme. The proposal outlines the contribution business needs to make to help tackle climate change and save 8 million tonnes of carbon each year. A saving of this amount would equate to the emissions of 4&frac12; million households.

Cetaceans

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) sharks and  (b) dolphins were killed by British fishermen in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: Over the past 10 years UK fisheries have landed an average of approximately 12,000 tonnes of dogfishes and sharks per year. Of these, "sharks" (pelagic and unspecified sharks) accounted for approximately 1,000 tonnes per year, although this has decreased in recent years. I do not have information on the numbers of sharks caught because the data on landings is recorded in tonnes and it is difficult to convert this into numbers of sharks due to the wide range of species and body sizes.
	Deliberate capture and killing and reckless disturbance of cetaceans is prohibited under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Bycatch of dolphins and other marine mammals does, however, occur in some fisheries. The exact number of animals that die from bycatch every year is unknown, as it is not feasible to monitor all fishing operations.
	Bycatch has been monitored in the bass pair trawl fishery. An average of 180 dolphins per year were bycaught in the bass pair trawl fishery between 2000-01 and 2004-05 winter seasons. Estimates for each year are provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2000-01 189 
			 2001-02 39 
			 2002-03 114 
			 2003-04 429 
			 2004-05 145 
			 Total 916 
		
	
	Bycatch is known to occur in gill net fisheries in the Channel and Western Approaches, but there are no recent estimates of the numbers involved. The most recent estimate dates from the early 1990s when around 200 common dolphins were being bycaught in the English and Irish gill net fishery for hake.
	The long-running DEFRA-funded Cetacean Strandings Contract has shown a 13 per cent. reduction in strandings around the UK coast in 2005 (799 in 2004, 700 in 2005). Figures for the preceding four years (2000 to 2004) had shown a generally increasing trend from 420 in 2000 to 799 in 2004. A report analysing the findings was published on 6 July 2006 and is available on DEFRA's website.

Deparmental Finance Directors

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) name,  (b) professional and academic qualifications and  (c) relevant experience are of the finance director of his Department.

Barry Gardiner: DEFRA's acting finance director is Ian Grattidge, pending a permanent appointment via an open competition, currently under way. Ian Grattidge joined DEFRA on 18 February 2002 and was appointed acting director on 7 November 2005.
	Ian Grattidge is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Chartered Accountants.
	Prior to joining DEFRA, Ian Grattidge held finance director posts at the Food Standards Agency and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency. He has also held posts in the Finance Management Division of former MAFF and at the BBC; was Head of Finance and Business Administration at the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, DTI; financial accountant at NMI Ltd; an internal auditor for the DTI and a tax inspector for HM Customs and Excise.

Departmental Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate the Government have made of greenhouse gas emissions from  (a) car,  (b) aviation,  (c) train and  (d) ship transportation by Departments in each year since 1997.

Ian Pearson: The estimates available for greenhouse gas emissions from transport by Departments currently focus on the road car fleet. The most recent estimates for carbon dioxide emissions from this car fleet was published in November 2005 as part of the "Sustainable Development in Government (SDIG): Fourth Annual Report". This covers the period from April 2004 to March 2005. Copies are available from the Sustainable Development Commission website:http://www.sd-Commission.org.uk/watchdog/4th_Annual _Report_(final)_UPDATED_30_11_05.pdf.
	All central Government ministerial and official air travel has been offset since 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. Final calculations for the opening year of the scheme, 2006-07, will be carried out in April 2007.
	The DEFRA-led Civil Service Travel Group has been created to help improve travel sustainability across the civil service. Its initial focus will be to work with all Departments on a voluntary basis to help them develop, and improve their own management information systems (MIS) on travel activities, alongside developing sustainable travel action plans for them to progress.

Energy Crops Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to re-run the current Energy Crops Scheme.

Ian Pearson: The Government have agreed in principle to support energy crops under the new Rural Development Programme, which will run from 2007 to 2013. We are currently considering how best to take this forward with regard to the responses to the consultation on the Rural Development Programme for England. The nature of the support may be different to that provided under the current programme.
	We hope to send the new Rural Development Programme to the European Commission in the autumn for its approval.

Energy Efficiency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to encourage companies to carry out regular audits of their buildings to seek opportunities for introducing energy efficiency methods.

Ian Pearson: The Carbon Trust provides a range of tools and products designed to help companies to make an assessment of the energy they use and to understand where changes could be made. This includes action plan tools, energy surveys, design advice and benchmarking tools. The Carbon Trust also offers small and medium-sized companies interest free loans to help them take practical energy efficiency action. In addition, the Trust's Carbon Management programme provides a systematic approach to managing the risks and realising the opportunities that climate change presents. It looks at both the revenue and cost sides of business and involves areas outside the scope of a normal energy or operational efficiency review.

Environmental Liability Directive

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the environmental liability directive on  (a) pollution control,  (b) water resources,  (c) biodiversity,  (d) wildlife,  (e) contaminated land and  (f) environmental protection in the UK.

Ian Pearson: Proposals for implementing regulatory measures have to be accompanied by an impact assessment. The first public consultation, to be launched later this year, will be accompanied by a detailed assessment of all costs and benefits of implementing the environmental liability directive, taking account of existing environmental protection regimes.

Environmental Management

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government  (a) is committed to the achievement of environmental management to ISO 14001 standard and  (b) has been externally certified as in compliance with that standard; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: On 12 June the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State announced new sustainable operations targets for the Government estate. Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are a key enabler in supporting improvements in operational performance on the estate, particularly in areas such as energy, water and waste. Therefore, the new targets included a commitment that all Departments should have an EMS in place, based, or modelled upon, a recognised system (such as ISO 14001, or the European regulation EMAS).
	In terms of certification some Departments have implemented the international standard ISO 14001 and have obtained external certification. Other Departments are working towards implementation of the standard and some Departments have already put in place bespoke environmental management systems so are not certified to a recognised standard.
	Departmental performance against EMS estate targets, including external certification, has been published in annual Sustainable Development in Government reports. The last report published by the Sustainable Development Commission, the independent watchdog, was in December 2005. It covered the reporting period April 2004 to March 2005 and is available at: http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/watchdog.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the total economic cost to the UK of taking part in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme relative to taking no action to control carbon dioxide emissions.

Ian Pearson: In the recently published Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for Phase II of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme we estimate that the cost of the scheme to the UK economy could be between £80 million and £640 million per year. This cost assumes a certain level of abatement will take place within the UK and also that the UK will purchase some allowances from the market. The final cost will therefore depend on the market price of carbon.
	If Phase II of the scheme was not implemented this would lead to costs predicted to be between £400 million and £1,344 million per year. These estimates are based on the conclusions of the Social Cost of Carbon Working Paper published by the Government Economic Service, and are also set out in the RIA. This cost represents the potential physical impacts of climate change.
	These estimates do not take into account the significant benefits to the UK economy that the scheme may generate through the growing market for emissions abatement equipment, and for financial services associated with emissions trading.

Fish Stocks

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will undertake an inquiry into the extent to which small hydroelectric generating plants damage fish stocks in rivers in which they are placed.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 6 July 2006
	The Government have no plans to undertake such an inquiry in the near future.
	The Government and the Environment Agency support the development of alternative, renewable sources of energy that are properly sustainable, taking into account wider environmental needs including protecting and improving fisheries.
	The Environment Agency engaged in a workshop with the hydropower industry and representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry earlier this year. The Environment Agency plans to work with the industry to develop good practice guidance, taking into account the needs of fish stocks and fisheries. It published a fisheries research report which included best practice guidance for screening intakes and out-falls(1). The report is relevant to protecting fish against certain impacts of hydropower schemes, and will inform future discussions.
	(1) Screening for intake and out-falls: a best practice guide (2005) R&D
	Author(s): O'Keeffe, N; Turnpenny, A W H
	Series Environment Agency science project (SC030231)
	Environment Agency science report (W6-103/TR)
	Environment Agency R&D project (W6-103)
	ISBN 1844323617
	Publication Bristol: Environment Agency, 2005

Flood Defences

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding has been made available for sea coastal defences in  (a) Clacton-on-Sea and  (b) Holland-on-Sea in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Environment Agency is the principal operating authority with responsibility for flood risk management in England, including for flooding from the sea. DEFRA funds most of the Environment Agency's flood related work and grant-aids individual capital improvement projects and related studies undertaken by local authorities.
	The following table summarises the Environment Agency's expenditure in Clacton-on-Sea and Holland-on-Sea from financial year 2001-02 to 2005-06, showing both capital and maintenance expenditure.
	
		
			  £000 
			   Clacton-on-Sea  Holland-on-Sea 
			   Capital  Maintenance  Capital  Maintenance 
			 2001-02 — 140 731 106 
			 2002-03 13.4 140 10.8 106 
			 2003-04 78.3 140 17.7 106 
			 2004-05 52 140 110 166 
			 2005-06 80.3 140 105.6 106 
		
	
	Tendring district council received support from DEFRA for their Coast Protection Strategy Plan Study in Clacton-on-Sea as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Grant  SCA/SCE(R) 
			 2001-02 74.4 42.6 
			 2002-03 40.2 94.3 
			 2003-04 — 3.6 
			 2004-05 12.7 — 
			 2005-06 — — 
		
	
	Tendring district douncil received support from DEFRA for their Coast Protection Works in Holland-on-Sea and Seawall Below York Road, also in Holland-on-Sea, projects as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Grant  SCA/SCE(R) 
			 2001-02 105.7 136.0 
			 2002-03 — 1.7 
			 2003-04 7.0 — 
			 2004-05 — — 
			 2005-06 78.5 149.5 
		
	
	SCA/SCE(R) represents actual spend by the council, which has been approved for long-term support through the Department for Communities and Local Government revenue funding mechanism for local authorities. This method of funding local authority flood and coastal erosion capital improvement projects has been replaced by 100 per cent. direct grant from DEFRA from April 2006.

Genetically Modified Organisms

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to assess the way in which genetically modified organisms are regulated; and if he will examine the current operation of the Advisory Committee on Releases into the Environment.

Ian Pearson: The European Commission has recently undertaken reviews of the main pieces of EU legislation concerning the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms. The Government will take note of the results of these reviews.
	We are, at present, satisfied with the way that the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) operates. ACRE is included in a general review being undertaken by DEFRA of its non-executive bodies.

Mobile Telephones

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on the environment of the regular recharging of mobile telephones.

Ian Pearson: DEFRA's Market Transformation Programme (MTP) estimates that in 2005 there were nearly 140 million external power supplies of the type used to charge mobile technology such as telephones and digital music players in use in the UK.
	Because the power consumed by external power supplies when charging appliances varies significantly with the type and size of appliance and the degree to which the appliance connected to it is already charged no reliable information is available on the impact on the environment of the regular recharging of mobile phones.
	However, the MTP has calculated that external power supplies use around 3.4Twh annually while they remain plugged in but not connected to an appliance or when the appliance has reached full-charge. Of this total approximately 1.6Twh is estimated to be attributed to mobile phone chargers.
	Encouragingly, all of the major suppliers of mobile phones are signatories of the European Commission's Code of Conduct for the Energy Performance of External Power Supplies which sets a voluntary commitment on manufacturers to supply chargers which meet a minimum level of performance in both standby and charge modes. Aside from a small percentage of older mobile phones (sold before the Code of Conduct was established) the large majority of mobile phones are now supplied with chargers which consume 1W or under while in standby or a no-load condition. In time this will reduce the total UK standby consumption of mobile phones by over 50 per cent.

Pollution

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much carbon dioxide was released into the air by British industries in each of the past five years.

Ian Pearson: The following table shows carbon dioxide emissions in megatonnes released by British industries from 2000 to 2004. Data for 2005 is not yet available. An average annual amount of CO2 emissions of 307.60804 megatonnes was released over five years.
	
		
			   Megatonne 
			 2000 301470.5666 
			 2001 313224.8 
			 2002 300358.14 
			 2003 310629.76 
			 2004 312356.92

Road Transport Emissions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what percentage carbon emissions from road transport have changed in each of the past nine years.

Ian Pearson: The following table shows changes in carbon dioxide emissions from road transport from 1997 to 2004. Data for 2005 are not yet available.
	
		
			   Total emissions in carbon kilotonnes  Percentage change between years  Percentage change from base line year (1990) 
			 1997 31,923.56 1.24 6.53 
			 1998 31,716.86 -0.65 5.84 
			 1999 31,965.63 0.78 6.67 
			 2000 31,752.46 -0.67 5.96 
			 2001 31,751.50 0.00 5.95 
			 2002 32,412.20 2.08 8.16 
			 2003 32,343.38 -0.21 7.93 
			 2004 32,671.36 1.01 9.02

Single Farm Payments

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to prevent late application penalties being handed down to farmers who have not yet received their single farm payment scheme application forms.

Barry Gardiner: An EU Regulation has been adopted which provides for all 2006 SPS claims to be accepted without penalty until 15 June. This extra time above and beyond the extension to 31 May will mean that around 4,000 farmers will not now be penalised.
	Applications will be accepted by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) until 10 July. However a penalty of 1 per cent. per working day will be applied to applications received between 16 June and 10 July.
	Application forms may be obtained from the RPA website, www.rpa.gov.uk: RPA Drop in Centres or by telephoning the RPA Customer Service Centre on 0845 603 7777.

Single Farm Payments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many cases claimants have disputed the full or interim Single Farm Payments made to them since April 2005.

Barry Gardiner: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) operates a formal appeal procedure to deal with appeals from customers about decisions reached by RPA which affect the amount of payment that they receive. To date 112 SPS related appeals have been received since payments began. In addition, the appeal procedure has dealt with 181 appeals against the Moorland Line and 280 appeals against the historic element of the SPS prior to payments being made.
	RPA does not currently have separate data on the number of cases where the claimant has disputed a payment made under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme outside of the formal appeals procedure.

Water Companies

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely  (a) environmental and  (b) economic impact on (i) South West London and (ii) London of Thames Water's failure to meet its leakage reduction target.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham (Lyn Brown) on 29 June 2006,  Official Report, column 560W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many officials from his Department are based in each province in Afghanistan, broken down by job function.

Hilary Benn: DFID has 16 UK officials currently based in Afghanistan. Fourteen are based in Kabul, one in Badakhshan and one in Helmand. These are listed in the following table and are broken down by job function.
	One additional post in Kabul (Economist) and one in Kandahar (Development Adviser) are vacant. Two additional official positions will move from London to Kabul in the next three months (Governance Adviser and Economist). This makes a total planned complement of 20 staff in Afghanistan. The DFID Afghanistan team also has UK officials in London, and Afghan staff in Kabul, and staff from Kabul travel regularly to other provinces (notably Helmand) to support the team there.
	The Post Conflict Reconstruction Unit, for which DFID has accounting responsibility, has deployed four UK officials to Helmand at various times in advance of the arrival of other Departments' staff, and has two officials based in Kabul as part of the Strategic Delivery Unit.
	DFID officials currently based in Afghanistan are as follows:
	
		
			  Job title  Location 
			 Head of DFID Afghanistan Kabul 
			 Deputy Head Kabul 
			 Economic Programme Manager Kabul 
			 Programme and Strategy Coordinator Kabul 
			 Policy, Programme and Strategy Programme Officer Kabul 
			 Livelihoods Programme Manager Kabul 
			 Livelihoods Adviser Kabul 
			 State-building Programme Manager Kabul 
			 Conflict Adviser Kabul 
			 Deputy Programme Manager Kabul 
			 Office/HR Manager Kabul 
			 Transition Manager (to be replaced as Deputy Office Manager) Kabul 
			 Secondee to the British Embassy Drugs Team Kabul 
			 ISAF Development Adviser Kabul 
			 Development Adviser Badakhshan 
			 Development Adviser Helmand

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many farmers have been offered grants to grow alternative crops to poppies in Afghanistan; and how much was paid to those farmers in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06.

Hilary Benn: DFID has not paid any grants directly to farmers to grow alternative crops to opium poppies in Afghanistan in 2004-05 and 2005-06. However, DFID does provide support to farmers, through programme and project support. Benefits to farmers from this support include training in new farming techniques, the introduction of alternative crops and identifying potential markets for these crops, distribution of seeds and fertilizer, and support to improve animal health and husbandry.
	In recognition of the need to increase the opportunities for farmers to move way from poppy cultivation, DFID has increased its funding for alternative livelihoods from £13 million in financial year 2004-05 to £45 million in 2005-06.
	At the same time as developing agricultural opportunities, DFID is also promoting the development of non-farm alternative livelihoods by supporting national programmes of the Government of Afghanistan which are helping to increase access to credit and improve infrastructure for farmers to transport their produce to markets.

Carbon Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the carbon emissions of his Department; what commitment he has made to reducing such emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Estimated carbon emissions from DFID operational activities:
	
		
			   Tonnes of carbon from UK buildings  Tonnes of carbon from air travel 
			 2004-05 1,046 1,792 
			 2005-06 1,067 1,754 
		
	
	DFID is strongly committed to the targets set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government estate to reverse the current upward trend in carbon emissions by April 2007 and to reduce emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11, and by 30 per cent. by 2020.
	During the refurbishment of both our UK buildings, we incorporated many energy saving mechanisms and have established Environment Management Systems in both offices. We have 100 per cent. green electricity at both UK offices and we are also currently working with the Carbon Trust to evaluate various options for renewable energy such as Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units. To reduce emissions from air travel we have significantly increased our video-conferencing facilities and actively encourage staff to use them.

Child Educational Development

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding the UK gives developing countries for child educational development.

Gareth Thomas: The Government will spend approximately 8.5 billion over the next 10 years. By 2010, we will be providing 1 billion a year in support of education in developing countries. This long-term commitment will provide poor country Governments with predictable funding against which they can prepare ambitious 10-year education sector plans to achieve the education goals. Our support will help in the development and implementation of 10-year plans, which will increase investment in schools, including recruiting and training more teachers, getting more pupils into and completing school and improving the quality of education.

Clean Water

David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to improve access to clean water and sanitation in the developing world.

Hilary Benn: Our approach is to help developing country Governments to implement their own plans for provision of water and sanitation, both by direct financing and providing technical know-how. We are also taking steps to make the international system, particularly the UN, more effective, through our support to UN-Water, and to the Joint Monitoring Programme, which measures global progress towards access to safe water and basic sanitation.
	The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of halving the proportion of people without access to safe water by 2015 is on track to be met globally, but not in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. DFID is committed to doubling spending on water in Africa to 95 million by 2008. We are now actively involved in seven African countries (Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia), up from only two years ago; and through our funding of other agencies' programmes, we reach many other countries. For example, the EU plans to provide 10 million people with access to water and a further five million to sanitation by 2010 through projects it has recently approved through the Water Facility.
	DFID's Water and Sanitation strategy was set out in the 2004 Water Action Plan. I reinforced DFID's commitment to doing more during my speeches on World Water Day in March 2005, and at DFID's External Water Forum in February 2006. DFID closely monitors progress in water and sanitation and publishes regular updates on the DFID website. The latest update can be accessed on DFID's website address at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Debt Cancellation

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many African countries' debts have been cancelled in the past five years.

Hilary Benn: Since 2001, 14 African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia) have received debt stock cancellation under the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. Another African country, Uganda, received debt stock cancellation under HIPC in 2000. All 15 of these countries have had 100 per cent. of their remaining debt stock at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank cancelled this year under the new Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI). When they completed the HIPC initiative, all these countries also received 100 per cent. cancellation of any bilateral (Government to Government) debts outstanding to the UK.
	A further 10 African countries are currently receiving interim debt relief under HIPC, and will receive 100 per cent. debt stock cancellation under the MDRI and on bilateral debts from the UK when they complete the HIPC initiative.
	Nigeria has also received considerable debt stock cancellation in the past year as part of the deal agreed with its Paris Club (Government) creditors to resolve 100 per cent. of its debts. Overall, US$18 billion of debt stock was cancelled under the deal, and Nigeria bought back the remaining debt for $12.4 billion.
	Prior to 2001, the UK also cancelled the bilateral aid debts of low income African countries.

Departmental Premises (Security)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures are in place to ensure that no illegal immigrants are employed in the manned guarding of his Department's premises.

Gareth Thomas: Guards at DFID offices are currently a combination of in-house and contracted staff. For all in-house permanent and pensionable staff, a range of nationality and identity checks are carried out at the time of recruitment, which ensure that the individual has the right of employment in the UK. Contractors are responsible for ensuring that similar checks are carried out on any staff whom they employ at any DFID offices.

Departmental Premises (Security)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has  (a) directly and  (b) indirectly employed illegal immigrants as security guards.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has not, as far as we are aware, employed either directly or indirectly illegal immigrants as security guards.

Departmental Travel Costs

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff of his Department have travelled other than in economy class on flights between Heathrow and Glasgow in each of the past 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: A total of 406 DFID staff made 949 non-economy class flights during 2005. The breakdown of flights by month were as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 January 59 
			 February 105 
			 March 80 
			 April 84 
			 May 67 
			 June 146 
			 July 77 
			 August 74 
			 September 77 
			 October 67 
			 November 75 
			 December 38

Departmental Travel Costs

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the most expensive flight within the UK is which his Department has booked for departmental staff in each of the past 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: The most expensive flights in 2005 were:
	
		
			
			 January 367.40 
			 February 418.60 
			 March 366.60 
			 April 422.50 
			 May 422.50 
			 June 385.70 
			 July 426.50 
			 August 363.90 
			 September 386.40 
			 October 426.50 
			 November 355.20 
			 December 355.20

Departmental Travel Costs

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many official journeys between London and Glasgow have been made by staff of his Department in the past 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: 1,201 journeys were completed in 2005.

Infrastructure Building (Afghanistan/Iraq)

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress his Department has made in building economic infrastructure in  (a) Afghanistan and  (b) Iraq.

Hilary Benn: Improving economic management and aid effectiveness is one of DFID's three objectives for its 102 million (2006-07) aid programme to Afghanistan. DFID is working with the Afghan Government to help improve revenue collection and financial planning, and works particularly closely with the Ministry of Finance. We are supporting them in customs and reform, which will help them to raise money from imports and exports and wealthier Afghan business and individuals, thus reducing their dependence on foreign aid. This is going well with revenues increasing by 30-40 per cent. per annum. We have also helped them improve the national budget process, with good results. The 2006-07 budget was recently approved by Parliament and further endorsed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with the launch of a Poverty Reduction and Growth Programme.
	DFID also works to build state institutions and improve the livelihoods of rural people, supporting the Afghan Government's own objectives, as set out in their Interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy. Although the rebuilding of Afghanistan cannot be achieved without significant investments in infrastructure, we do not focus on this area. Given the scale of resources required, and the importance of donors working to their respective comparative advantages, we believe other donors are better placed to make these investmentsin particular the USA, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan, all of whom are investing in Afghanistan's infrastructure sector. Part of DFID's livelihoods work does include support for small scale rural infrastructure through funding to national programmes. Through the National Rural Access Programme for example, around 6,000 km of rural roads have been rehabilitated and/or constructed since 2002.
	Over 70 per cent. of our aid goes directly to the Government of Afghanistan. The UK is the largest donor to the Government's recurrent budgetcovering annual costs such as salaries for teachers and health workers. This is exactly what the Afghan Government wantand is the best chance for building effective state institutions that will last.
	In Iraq, DFID has committed over 417 million to specific projects since March 2003, of which over 353 million has now been disbursed. This includes a 70 million contribution in 2004 to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI)trust funds run by the UN and the World Bank; and 19 per cent. of EC contributions to Iraq (67 million).
	DFID has been supporting economic reform in Iraq since 2004 and has committed 13 million to support the Iraqi Ministry of Finance to lead and manage a programme of macro-economic and budget reform. Activities include help with 2007 budget preparation, policy advice on public expenditure and in particular subsidy reform, and keeping the IMF's Standby Arrangement on track. DFID also plans to provide two additional consultants to the Government of Iraq to work on structural economic reform (e.g. oil sector restructuring and financial market reforms).
	Since March 2003 DFID has spent 78 million on physical infrastructure improvements in southern Iraq, to improve delivery of power and water services essential to further economic growth. These include:
	repairs to power stations in the south which have added and secured enough power in total to supply over 50,000 homes, and improved electricity supplies to 1.5 million residents;
	work to provide 10 small generators adding a further 15MW to the national grid;
	construction of a water training centre for use by the southern Governorates
	replacement of 800 km of water mains, as well as repair of 5,047 leaks across the four southern Governorates;
	construction of almost 10 km of piped main drainage plus mains connections to 830 houses;
	supply of technical advice for a major sewage installation in Al Amarah, providing up to half the city's population with access to a piped system and replacing open sewage channels; and
	installation of new sewage treatment facilities at Mina Prison, Basra;
	We have also committed a further 18 million to improve power and water infrastructure in the south includes building a new gas pumping station; essential repairs at power stations; building three new water towers; and two further water projects which will provide drinking water for 500,000 people.

Kosovo (Munitions Clearance)

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Kosovo Protection Corps clearance of UK cluster munitions in Kosovo; and when the clearance is expected to be completed.

Adam Ingram: I have been asked to reply
	The Kosovo Protection Corps has been trained to UN benchmarks in the clearance of a broad variety of mines, unexploded ordnance and cluster munitions by Handicap International. Alongside non-governmental organisations engaged in explosive ordnance disposal, they have cleared a significant number of designated dangerous areas in Kosovo in 2006 alone. It is anticipated that in 2007 the clearance of dangerous areas will have been completed. A recent report made by the United Nations Mine Action Service stated that the Kosovo Protection Corps explosive ordnance disposal teams will be capable of addressing the residual land mine and unexploded ordnance threat in Kosovo from 2007 and beyond.

Kosovo (Munitions Clearance)

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many proposals the Department has received to fund clearance of unexploded UK cluster munitions in the last two years; how many related to Kosovo; and how many have been funded in each case.

Hilary Benn: DFID has received two funding applications related to unexploded UK cluster munitions. Both were for Kosovo.
	DFID has not funded either of these.
	DFID has spent 15 million on humanitarian landmine clearance and related work in Kosovo, including approximately 3.3 million through the Halo Trust for its work there during 1999-2001. Since 2001, we have judged, in consultation with the United Nations Mine Action Service and our own specialist adviser, that the overall threat from unexploded ordnance in Kosovo has been reduced considerably and that the capacity of the Kosovan de-mining authorities has grown sufficiently to deal with it.
	DFID directs its mines action funds to worse affected, less well resourced countries, including funding the Halo Trust in, for example, Sri Lanka, Abkhazia, Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Somaliland and Sudan.

Overseas Projects

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in what projects the UK is involved in  (a) the Palestinian Territories,  (b) Iraq and  (c) Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: In the Palestinian Territories, DFID support has focused on three areas: supporting the peace process, improving the delivery of humanitarian and development assistance, and helping the institutions of a future Palestinian state to be more effective, accountable and inclusive. DFID has spent 176 million on its Palestinian programme since 2001, plus our share of European Community aid. DFID projects and programmes are as follows:
	Support for Palestinian refugees through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency;
	Assistance to the Negotiations Affairs Department to support progress towards a negotiated, two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict;
	Building the capacity of the Palestinian Authority (currently suspended) and civil society organisations on governance and public administration reform;
	Improved analysis of PA institutional development;
	A fund to assist DFID to finance strategic interventions to support a peace process and economic development.
	Until the Hamas Government agree to the conditions set out by the Quartet, UK Government aid will be channelled outside the Palestinian Authority. We expect to contribute through a new temporary international mechanism to provide support for Palestinian basic needs.
	The UK also provides funding through the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP), which is managed jointly by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), DFID and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Current projects in the Palestinian Territories:
	Military liaison officer for the Palestinians;
	Training needs analysis for national security forces (currently suspended);
	Military advisor to the special envoy for disengagement (currently suspended);
	Close protection support for President of the Palestinian Authority;
	Appointment of a Financial Liaison Officer to the Palestinian Authority (currently suspended); and
	Water pollution management in Israel, Jordan and Palestinian Authority.
	The GCPP also funds a number of relevant projects with Israeli non-governmental organisations. These organisations are:
	Peace Now - Settlement Watch;
	Ir Amin - advocacy project on status of Jerusalem;
	Economic Co-operation Foundation - Gaza disengagement;
	Council for Peace and Security - advocacy work on Israeli separation;
	HaMoKed/BTselem - Freedom of movement for Palestinians;
	Palestinian media activities in support of the Roadmap (jointly funded with USAID); and
	Ad Hoc Liason Committee - donor co-ordination.
	In Iraq, the UK Government have pledged a total of 544 million for reconstruction from 2003 until 2006 (including contributions from DFID, the FCO and the MOD, the GCPP, and the UK's share of EC funding in Iraq). The UK has disbursed over 533 million.
	DFID's programme for 2006-07 in Iraq focuses on four key areas of economic reform; infrastructure improvements; governance and institution building; and support for civil society and political participation. This is through the projects listed, through our work as a major contributor to the United Nations and World Bank Trust Funds for Iraq, and by helping other donors to establish programmes in Iraq. DFID is currently funding the following projects:
	Iraq Infrastructure Services Project to deliver improved power and water services in southern Iraq;
	Operation Ampere providing 10 generators for southern governorates;
	Governorates capacity building programme (GCBP) supporting the southern provinces in planning and budgeting skills. In Basra, the UK-led provincial reconstruction team (PRT) is developing an integrated approach to governance, rule of law, economic development and infrastructure. The PRT draws together existing GCBP funding with US funding on governance (plus further programme funding from the US of $15 million from October 2006), US military funding and Danish funds on agriculture and irrigation;
	Support to the centre of Government. This programme is building communications, management and core civil service expertise in the Prime Minister's office, Council of Ministers' Secretariat and Government Communications Directorate;
	Supporting Economic Reform, helping the Ministry of Finance to lead and manage a programme of macro-economic and budget reform in Iraq;
	BBC World Service Trust Project, strengthening independent broadcasting in the south;
	Political Participation Fund. This project seeks to encourage broad participation in national and local elections and the constitutional debate; and
	Civil Society Fund. We provide funding to UK non-governmental organisations who forge mentoring partnerships with Iraqi civil society organisations to build their capacity.
	In 2006-07 the Global Conflict Prevention Pool is undertaking the following projects in Iraq:
	Police training and mentoring;
	Prisons mentoring and support;
	Ministry of Interior support to improve accountability and reduce scope for abuses and corruption;
	Provision of a justice adviser.
	The FCO has also allocated 100,000 for human rights support projects in Iraq.
	In Afghanistan, DFID's aid programme (102 million in 2006-7) supports three of the Afghan Government's own objectives, as set out in their Interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy: (i) building effective state institutions; (ii) improving economic management and the effectiveness of aid to Afghanistan; and (iii) improving the livelihoods of rural people. Current projects are in the following list.
	 State- building
	Afghanistan Stabilisation Programme;
	Technical Assistance to Ministry of Counter Narcotics /Ministry of Interior to strengthen Counter-Narcotics Institutions;
	Support to Provincial Stabilisation;
	Technical Assistance to the Civil Service Commission for Public Administration Reform;
	Technical Assistance to the Office of the President's Spokesman;
	Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit: Drivers of Change research;
	Support to British Agencies in Afghanistan Group; and
	Support to Centre of Government Institutions.
	 Economic Management/Aid Effectiveness
	Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund;
	Counter Narcotics Trust Fund;
	Technical Assistance to Ministry of Finance on Tax Administration;
	Technical Assistance for Customs and the Cabinet Secretariat;
	Technical Assistance to Ministry of Finance on Budget Formulation;
	Technical Assistance to Ministry of Commerce on Private Sector Development;
	Technical Assistance to Ministry of Mines and Industry; and
	Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.
	 Livelihoods
	National Solidarity Programme (Government Programme);
	Micro-finance Investment Support Facility in Afghanistan (Government Programme);
	Eastern Hazarajat Alternative Livelihoods Project (UN FAO);
	Alternative Agricultural Livelihoods Programme (UN FAO);
	Badakhshan - Aga Khan Development Network AL programme;
	Research into Alternative Livelihoods Fund; and
	Agricultural Input Supply Programme
	Technical assistance to Ministry reconstruction and rural development and Ministry of Agriculture and animal husbandry on sustainable livelihoods.
	Over 70 per cent. of our aid goes directly to the Government of Afghanistan. The UK is the largest donor to the Government's recurrent budgetcovering annual costs such as salaries for teachers and health workers. This is exactly what the Afghan Government wantand is the best chance for building effective state institutions that will last.

Palestinian Authority

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much financial aid was given to the Palestinian Authority in each year since 2000.

Hilary Benn: DFID's support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) since 2000 has been as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Support to the PA ( million) 
			 2000-01 8.3 
			 2001-02 13.0 
			 2002-03 14.1 
			 2003-04 15.2 
			 2004-05 14.1 
			 2005-06 13.5 
		
	
	This support has included technical assistance and financial aid, including budgetary support. These figures are in addition to Palestinian projects implemented outside the PA, including contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for refugees.
	Following Hamas' victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections of January 2006, and their subsequent failure to meet the Quartet principles, all direct aid to the Palestinian Authority has been suspended.

Palestinian Authority

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much financial aid he expects the UK will give to the Palestinian Authority in 2006-07.

Hilary Benn: Until the Hamas-led Government complies with the principles laid out by the Quartet (the United Nations, the United States of America, Russia and the European Union), direct aid to the Palestinian Authority will not be possible. The principles are that the Hamas-led Government should recognise Israel, renounce violence, and accept previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap.
	However, DFID's programme of support to the Palestinian people will continue. In April we released 15 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency which provides health, education and other basic services to Palestinian refugees.
	The UK also intends to make a contribution of up to 12 million to a temporary international mechanism to provide direct support to the basic needs of the Palestinian people.

School Construction (Africa)

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many schools have been built in the past 12 months in African countries.

Hilary Benn: The Education for All Global Monitoring Report is the primary source of data on country progress towards the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education. It does not include data about the building of new schools. For DFID bilaterally to collect such data across Africa would involve a disproportionate cost. We are, however, tracking data on the numbers of girls and boys in school and on progress towards meeting the universal primary education and gender equality Millennium Development Goals.

Skill Sharing

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the ways in which the UK is sharing skills with African countries, with particular reference to plumbers and electricians and training young people.

Hilary Benn: DFID does not provide any specific vocational training for trainee plumbers and electricians. However, DFID's Higher Education Links programme has facilitated training for many young people. For example, a link between the University of Natal in South Africa and the University of Ulster has enabled the training of community youth workers to work in poor communities.
	Following a review of the Links programme, DFID recently launched a new 15 million programme, Development Partnerships in Higher Education (DelPHE) that will run until March 2013. The DelPHE, managed by the British Council, will support a variety of partnerships between higher education institutions, enabling them to collaborate on activities linked to sustainable development, science and technology, and the reduction of poverty.

TRANSPORT

A303 Stonehenge

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects a decision to be made on the review of the A303 Stonehenge Improvement Scheme.

Stephen Ladyman: The cross-Government steering group, which has been reviewing the options for the A303 at Stonehenge, will be producing a report to Ministers in the summer. This will set out the results of the public consultation and a detailed assessment of the shortlisted options. We will need to carefully consider this report before deciding on a way forward.

Antisocial Behaviour (Trains)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains were  (a) delayed and  (b) cancelled because of vandalism on the tracks in the past 12 months, broken down by region.

Derek Twigg: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The information on delays is not available in the format requested.
	 (b) The following table shows the percentage of all train cancellations, resulting from vandalism, listed by Network Rail route, from April 1 2005 to March 31 2006.
	
		
			  Network Rail (NR) route  Percentage of cancellations due to vandalism per NR route 
			 Anglia 0.88 
			 Kent 0.65 
			 London North East 0.22 
			 London North West 2.85 
			 Scotland 0.33 
			 Sussex 0.98 
			 Wessex 1.32 
			 Western 0.14

Boats (Blood Alcohol Limits)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government have any plans to introduce a maximum blood alcohol limit for  (a) recreational mariners and  (b) those in charge of a boat.

Stephen Ladyman: Following a consultation in 2004 and more recent evidence given to us, including two Marine Accident Investigation Branch recommendations, we are now working with interested parties to see what appropriate measures should be taken to implement the relevant provisions of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.

Boats (Blood Alcohol Limits)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment the Government have made of the results of the 2004 consultation into a maximum blood alcohol limit for recreational mariners.

Stephen Ladyman: We are currently reassessing all the views in the light of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch recommendations delivered earlier this year and will make an announcement once that exercise is complete.

Boats (Blood Alcohol Limits)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment the Marine Accident Investigation Board has made of the number of people  (a) killed and  (b) injured in (i) recreational and (ii) non-recreational marine craft in each of the past five years; and in how many of these cases alcohol was identified as a contributory factor.

Stephen Ladyman: The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2005 only place a requirement to report accidents involving recreational craft if they are being commercially operated. However, the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents may investigate accidents involving privately-owned craft if they are brought to his attention.
	Details of all accidents reported to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch are contained on its database. Statistics for deaths and injuries for both recreational and non-recreational craft for the past five years are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Recreational craft (non-commercial)  All other vessels 
			   Deaths  Injuries  Deaths  Injuries 
			 2001 3 2 23 651 
			 2002 8 4 27 647 
			 2003 12 10 22 673 
			 2004 3 25 22 647 
			 2005 24 35 22 551 
		
	
	The second table contains numbers of deaths and injuries where alcohol was positively identified as a contributory factor:
	
		
			   Recreational craft (non-commercial)  All other vessels 
			   Deaths  Injuries  Deaths  Injuries 
			 2001 2  2 12 
			 200214 
			 2003 1  1 18 
			 2004  3  14 
			 2005 5 3 5 17

Dangerous Vehicles

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department  (a) has undertaken,  (b) plans to undertake and  (c) has evaluated on the number of vehicles driven in a dangerous condition; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) carries out fleet compliance surveys on an annual basis. Vehicles are stopped randomly at the roadside and any found to be in a dangerous condition are issued with an immediate prohibition notice which prevents the vehicle from being driven any further until the defects have been rectified.
	As vehicles are stopped and checked at random, we can use the results of the survey to estimate the proportion of vehicles in the entire fleet that may be being driven in a dangerous condition.
	The data compiled from the fleet compliance surveys is published in VOSA's Effectiveness Report (tables A1.19, A2.11 and A3.7) which can be found on the VOSA website.

Foreign Nationals (Driving)

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for how long foreign nationals may use the driving licences of their home country to drive on UK roads; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The length of time that a foreign licence holder may drive on UK roads is dependent on where the licence was obtained. Full details are available on the website:
	http://www.direct.gov.uk/Motoring/DriverLicensing/Driving InGbOnAForeignLicence/fs/en.

Foreign Nationals (Driving)

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether registered asylum seekers are able to apply for British driving licences.

Stephen Ladyman: Asylum seekers are eligible to apply for a provisional driving licence provided they meet the requirements specified in legislation. This requires applicants to complete an application, provide a photograph and acceptable supporting evidence of identity.

Government Car Service

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles in the Government Car Service are leased to HM Treasury, broken down by  (a) make and model and  (b) vehicle excise duty band.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government Car and Despatch Agency leases no vehicles directly to HM Treasury. The Agency does provide six allocated cars and drivers to HM Treasury for Ministers and senior officials. These cars are from the Rover 75, Vauxhall Omega, Ford Mondeo and Toyota Prius ranges. All these cars are in band F except for the Toyota Prius, which is in band B.

Government Car Service

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many motor cars are owned or leased by the Government for the use of Ministers and Government staff;
	(2)  how many of the vehicles owned or leased by the Government for the use of Ministers and Government staff are claimed by their manufacturers to produce average carbon dioxide emissions in quantities of less than  (a) 120g,  (b) 140g and  (c) 225g per kilometre travelled;
	(3)  which vehicle in the Government's motor car fleet produces the highest level of carbon dioxide emissions; and to what purpose this vehicle is put.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) provides transport for Ministers and senior officials in accordance with the arrangements set out in Chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, Travel by Ministers.
	GCDA has 191 vehicles in its car fleet. Of these:  (a) 38 emit 120 grams per kilometre (g/km) or less of carbon dioxide;  (b) five emit between 120 g/km and 140 g/km; and  (c) 84 emit between 140 g/km and 225 g/km. The three vehicles emitting the highest level of carbon dioxide are 4.0 litre Jaguars which produce 285 g/km. These vehicles are presently unallocated.

Green Light Warning Beacons

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek to extend the legislative provision that allows employment of a green light from a warning beacon fitted to a vehicle by a medical practitioner attending an urgent incident to cover  (a) coastguards,  (b) lifeboat crews and  (c) mountain and cave rescue teams.

Stephen Ladyman: Green lights are currently reserved for vehicles which are occupied by medical practitioners registered by the General Medical Council and which are being used in an emergency. Users of these lights are not permitted exemptions from road traffic law: for example a doctor is not permitted to exceed a speed limit or to treat a red traffic light as a 'give way' sign.
	The use of flashing warning lights needs to be limited in order to prevent their impact being diminished.
	The Transport Committee has already recommended that official mountain and lowland search and rescue vehicles should be able to use blue lamps. The Department has accepted this recommendation. Any extension of the use of green lights would need to be discussed on a national basis and would require convincing justification.

Leisure Craft (Accidents)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how  (a) the Government and  (b) the Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) records accidents involving leisure craft; whether reporting of such incidents is mandatory; what estimate the MAIB has made of the number of (i) serious and (ii) minor accidents on leisure marine craft that go unreported in a year; and whether MAIB sets out  (A) reported and  (B) estimated accidents in its published reports.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) powers are defined in the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2005. These regulations place a requirement on skippers and operators of leisure craft that are being operated commercially to report accidents to the MAIB. Details of these accidents are recorded on the MAIB's Marine Incident Database System.
	There is no statutory requirement to report accidents and incidents involving privately owned leisure craft, but skippers are encouraged to do so voluntarily so that accident levels and trends may be identified, and others may learn important safety lessons via articles published in the MAIB's Safety Digest.
	The MAIB makes no estimate of the number of leisure craft accidents that are unreported in either the commercial or non-commercial sectors. In its annual report, the MAIB presents accident statistics for leisure craft derived from reported accidents recorded on its database.

Lorry Parks

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to provide secure lorry parks with appropriate facilities for drivers.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport has published guidance on how to set up and run Freight Quality Partnerships (FQPs).
	FQPs are a means for local authorities, businesses, freight operators, environmental groups, the local community and other interested stakeholders to work together to address specific freight transport issues, including provision of secure parking and facilities for the drivers.
	DfT has brought together the road haulage trade associations, motorway service area providers, the Highways Agency and the Home Office to seek a common understanding of how best to increase and improve provision of lorry parking. The Department will then follow this up with local authorities to raise awareness of issues facing road haulage operators including access to lorry parking and driver rest areas.

Lorry Parks

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely impact of providing secure lorry parks on  (a) crime and  (b) road safety; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: While no formal assessment has been made of the impact more secure lorry parking might have on levels of crime, Home Office experience of safer parking facilities for cars indicates it would be a useful tool for reducing crime and the fear of crime. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), owner of the Safer Parking Scheme, is currently preparing guidance specifically to address the type of crime affecting light and heavy goods vehicle parking facilities.
	The Department has undertaken no specific assessment on the impact on road safety but encourages drivers to make use of such facilities so that they can rest properly and reduce the risk of sleepiness while driving.

Low Carbon Buses

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his Department's announcement of 23 September 2003, how many demonstration low carbon buses have been produced using the funding announced.

Gillian Merron: The allocated funding for demonstration low carbon buses was subject to state aid approval by the European Commission. A review of this programme was undertaken during the state aid notification process and a decision was taken not to proceed with the programme. I refer the hon. Member to the written statement Transport grant and advice programmes made by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Transport on 7 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 30-32WS, about that decision.

Motorcycles

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of road accidents in each of the past five years which involved children of primary school age or below travelling as passengers on motorcycles.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of personal injury road accidents reported to the police involving at least one child casualty aged 0 to 11 travelling as a passenger on a two wheeled motor vehicle (TWMV) in each of the past five years is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Accidents involving at least one child casualty (aged 0 to 11) travelling as a TWMV passenger: 2001-05 
			   Number 
			 2001 60 
			 2002 71 
			 2003 68 
			 2004 65 
			 2005 44

Motorways

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the introduction of motorway rest areas.

Stephen Ladyman: Currently under section 112 of the Highways Act 1980 the Secretary of State is not permitted to establish a picnic area on land adjacent to a motorway. An amending clause is included in the Road Safety Bill which is currently before Parliament. Subject to the acquisition of the necessary powers and funding the Government will consider the establishment of a pilot picnic area.

Motorways

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on current motorway safety programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: A large proportion of the Highways Agency's 2006-07, 2.2 billion programme budget contributes either directly or indirectly to road safety initiatives. It is not possible to separate specific spend on motorway safety programmes.

Motorways

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what obligations the Highways Agency is under to remove litter from motorway embankments and verges; and how often this  (a) should be and  (b) is done on the area surrounding the M57 and M58 motorways.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency is obliged, by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to remove litter from motorways, including the central reservations, verges, and embankments. This arrangement has regard to the nature and use of the highway, and the need to limit disruption to traffic. To comply with the Act, which specifies, through a supplementary code of practice, standards of cleanliness and response times, the Agency undertakes a regime of sweeping and litter-picking on the M57 and M58 motorways.
	Litter-picking on the verges and embankments is undertaken at regular three-monthly intervals. The offside lanes and central reserves are routinely swept and litter-picked every six months, and the hard shoulders are swept every three months. Where the Agency's daily routine inspections identify a particular problem, additional litter-picking and sweeping is undertaken.

Outer London Orbital Road

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for an outer London orbital road that would include the part of the A130/A131 in the West Chelmsford constituency.

Stephen Ladyman: The Secretary of State for Transport has no plans for an outer London orbital road.

Pedestrian Accidents

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pedestrians were  (a) killed and  (b) injured by vehicles in West Lancashire in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of pedestrians killed and injured in personal injury road accidents reported to the police in the local authority of West Lancashire from 1996 to 2005 are given in the table.
	
		
			  Pedestrian casualties in West Lancashire local authority, 1996 to 2005 
			   Fatal  Injured( 1)  All casualties 
			 1996 1 57 58 
			 1997 1 54 55 
			 1998 1 40 41 
			 1999 2 51 53 
			 2000 1 34 35 
			 2001 1 41 42 
			 2002 2 42 44 
			 2003 1 30 31 
			 2004 0 49 49 
			 2005 2 38 40 
			 (1)Injured includes serious and slight casualties.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the role of the Office of Rail Regulation is in the determination of fare levels.

Derek Twigg: The Office of Rail Regulation has no role in setting fare levels.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his policy that cheap day return rail fares should apply all day.

Derek Twigg: Cheap day returns have never been valid all day, only after the morning peak. As these tickets are unregulated, the validity of these tickets is determined by train operators.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the amount by which fares would need to rise to reduce overcrowding by 10 per cent. on the 10 most overcrowded rail routes.

Derek Twigg: Although we have examined, and continue to monitor, the relationship between fares and demand, the Department has not conducted the specific research to answer this question.

Railways

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding allocations are planned under the Railways for All small schemes fund.

Derek Twigg: We have received 43 separate bids covering 106 stations totalling 3.2 million. These bids are currently being assessed. Once this process is complete we will publish details of all the successful bids on our website.

Railways

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements are in place for funding projects other than those at stations from the Railways for All small schemes fund.

Derek Twigg: Access for All Small Schemes funding is intended to support innovative and locally focused solutions to access problems as well as schemes that demonstrate improvements to integrated accessible transport solutions. If projects other than those at stations can demonstrate that they meet the criteria for funding, including the requirement to provide match funding, they will be considered for funding in the same way as schemes for individual stations.

Railways

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why the match funding requirement has been introduced for the Railways for All small scheme fund; how the requirement will be operated; and whether the requirement applies to all projects.

Derek Twigg: The match funding requirement for Small Schemes bids is intended to ensure that the funding is spread across as many schemes as possible. It also ensures that bidders are committed to the schemes and that those schemes have reached a credible stage of development.

Railways

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations have bid for Railways for All small scheme funding.

Derek Twigg: We have received bids from 16 different organisations. These bids are currently being assessed. Once decisions on which schemes are to receive funding have been finalised, details of the successful bidders will be published on the Department's website.

Railways

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps will be taken to promote bids for Railways for All small scheme funding from as broad a range of organisations as possible.

Derek Twigg: We are keen to attract bids from as many sources as possible. For future bidding rounds, in addition to any publicity on the Department's website and in the press, the Department will again be writing to a range of industry, local authority and disability organisations to advise them of the fund and the bidding process.

Railways

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that his Department's Access for All small schemes funding delivers improved accessibility for disabled rail passengers at Clapham Junction station.

Derek Twigg: Clapham Junction is one of the first 47 stations to be targeted for Access for All funding in the first three years of the Railways for All project. Officials from the Department are working closely with Network Rail and other stakeholders to ensure that an effective design is developed to deliver a step free route that is compatible with any future developments planned for Clapham Junction.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train services  (a) were scheduled to run and  (b) ran in each of the last 12 months, broken down by region.

Derek Twigg: That data is not held in full in the format requested.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many assaults there have been on railway station staff in each of the past five years, broken down by police authority area.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held by the Department for Transport, in the specific format requested. However, I refer the hon. Member to my answer on this subject of 6 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1267W. Information relating to assaults on railway station staff is held by the British Transport Police who can be contacted at: British Transport Police, 25 Camden road, London NW1 9LN.

Road Traffic Accidents

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people died as a result of road traffic accidents in each  (a) London borough and  (b) constituency in each of the last five years, broken down by age; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: A table showing the number of fatalities in road accidents in each  (a) London borough and  (b) national constituency, broken down by age group in each of the past five years has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Road Traffic Accidents

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many traffic accidents in the last year for which figures are available involved drivers who were foreign nationals.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not available.

DEFENCE

Advertising Campaigns

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advertising campaigns his Department has run since July 2004; and what the  (a) date and  (b) cost was of each.

Tom Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Islwyn (Mr. Touhig) gave on 28 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 899-900W, to the hon. Member for Wealden (Mr. Hendry).

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of Operation Mountain Thrust on the likely outcome of the NATO International Security Assistance Force mission in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: The aims of Operation Mountain Thrust are to: help stabilise the security situation in the south in advance of transfer of authority to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force; and to create conditions in which reconstruction activities can take place across the region to improve the lives of ordinary Afghans, extend the authority of the Afghan Government and extend the rule of law.

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent assessment is of the adequacy of levels of personnel and equipment available to NATO forces in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 6 July 2006
	The levels of personnel and equipment have been constantly reviewed by NATO Defence Ministers since the Alliance took command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on 11 August 2003. The UK has been fully engaged with this process and has endorsed the robust force package provided.

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the request for additional  (a) fixed-wing aircraft,  (b) helicopters and  (c) personnel made by Lieutenant-General David Richards, Commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan is supported by the Chief of the General Staff; when Ministers will decide what proportion of additional vehicles will be supplied by the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 6 July 2006
	Force generation for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is the responsibility of NATO. The UK responds to requests from NATO for additional resources as and when received, based on military advice, including from the Chiefs of Staff. The force package the UK has deployed to the South of Afghanistan in support of ISAF expansion was fully endorsed by all the Chiefs of Staff, as was the deployment of HQ ARRC, which Lieutenant-General Richards commands, to command ISAF. A statement will be made in the House should we decide to commit further forces to Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions the Prime Minister has had with  (a) his counterparts in other NATO countries,  (b) the NATO Secretary-General and  (c) his counterparts in other non-NATO countries on force generation for deployment in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in the past three months; what the outcome of these discussions has been to date; whether they are ongoing; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: holding answer 6 July 2006
	My right hon. Friends and I, including the Prime Minister, have regular discussions with our counterparts in NATO and other ISAF troop contributing nations regarding the deployment of forces into Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are plans for International Security Assistance Force personnel to become involved in the interdiction of narcotics production of Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) personnel do not have a direct role in targeted interdiction operations or in the eradication of poppy fields. Under the terms of NATO's operational plan for Afghanistan, ISAF forces can provide, within means and capabilities, training and operational support to Afghan Counter Narcotics forces.

Agencies Merger

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Defence Procurement Agency and the Defence Logistics Organisation are to merge; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 3 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 27-29WS.

Armed Forces Abroad (Telecommunications)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to negotiate with telecommunications service providers preferential rates for family members telephoning members of the UK armed forces serving abroad.

Tom Watson: The telecommunications market is one of the most competitive and dynamic sectors of the UK economy, with a comprehensive range of services to suit a wide variety of needs. There is no likelihood that Ministry of Defence intervention in this market in general would provide any additional flexibility. However, for service personnel, their families and the defence community in particular, the Defence Discount Directory is continuing to work with the major service providers to explore what special discounts they might be able to offer. Also, service literature and websites give advice to families on general communications issues, with contact options that include telephone, e-mail, e-bluey and the British Forces Post Office system among others.

British Armed Forces Federation

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings he has had with the newly formed British Armed Forces Federation.

Tom Watson: No meetings have taken place.

Clansman Radio

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for withdrawing the Clansman radio from service with the UK armed forces.

Adam Ingram: The planned out of service date for Clansman is April 2008.

Darfur

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to provide troops for United Nations peacekeeping operations in Darfur; and in what capacity they would serve.

Adam Ingram: One UK military officer is currently deployed to the United Nations (UN) Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO), in New York, to help develop UN plans for Darfur.
	There are presently no plans to deploy any further military personnel.

Departmental Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his practice is regarding meeting, discussing and taking into account the views and opinions of  (a) private individuals and  (b) representatives of organisations when drawing up and framing legislation to be introduced by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: The Ministry of Defence always seeks a full range of views when drawing up and framing legislation. Consultation is a key part of the policy-making process; both informal and formal. The Department holds meetings with representatives of the principal stakeholder groups for our policy areas and with relevant experts. Organisations and individuals can also contribute to the Department's formal consultations which abide by the code of conduct on consultation. Known stakeholders are alerted to the fact that a formal consultation is taking place. As required by the code, the Department then gives feedback on the responses received and on how the consultation process influenced the policy decision.

Departmental Premises (Security)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has  (a) directly and  (b) indirectly employed illegal immigrants as security guards.

Tom Watson: I am aware of one instance in which the Ministry of Defence recruited a security guard who was later identified as an illegal immigrant. The man concerned provided false documentation and references on recruitment. Upon detection later by the Ministry of Defence police, his employment was immediately terminated.
	I am not aware of any illegal immigrants being indirectly employed by the MOD as contract security guards.

Diabetes/Depleted Uranium

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has he  (a) commissioned,  (b) evaluated and  (c) received from other sources on possible links between the incidence of diabetes and exposure to depleted uranium; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: The Ministry of Defence has not commissioned, evaluated or received any research on possible links between the incidence of diabetes and exposure to depleted uranium.

Diego Garcia

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requirement there was on the US Administration to inform the UK Government that mines were stored on ships in UK territorial waters surrounding Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	The Exchange of Notes between the United States and the United Kingdom concerning the availability for defence purposes of the British Indian Ocean Territory 1966 and subsequent Exchange of Notes between the two Governments do not require the United States to provide this kind of information. It is important to note that the territorial sea surrounding Diego Garcia is the territorial sea of the British Indian Ocean Territory, an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom.

Diego Garcia

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the British Government has requested a catalogue of military equipment, arms or munitions held on US ships in the UK territorial waters surrounding Diego Garcia, pursuant to its obligations under the Ottawa Treaty in the past five years.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK is not obliged under the Ottawa Convention to request such a catalogue from the United States and has not done so. The Ottawa Convention, moreover, applies only to anti-personnel landmines. The territorial sea surrounding Diego Garcia is the territorial sea of the British Indian Ocean Territory, an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom.

Equal Opportunities

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are assigned to equal opportunities investigation teams, broken down by rank; how many investigations have been undertaken by the teams since their establishment; and how many disciplinary cases have been initiated as a result.

Tom Watson: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

EU Emission Trading Scheme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost of  (a) administering and  (b) buying allocations for each military establishment included in the EU Emission Trading Scheme was in its first year of operation.

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which installations within his responsibilities are registered with the European Union Emission Trading scheme; and what the cost of carbon credits for each installation was in 2005-06.

Tom Watson: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is registered as the operator of 29 sites under the European Union Emission Trading Scheme, with a further four sites registered where the facilities management contractors act as operator on behalf of the MOD.
	The table details the cost of carbon credits and administrating and buying additional permits for each of the establishments registered within the first year of operation of the EU Emission Trading Scheme.
	
		
			   
			  Site  Registration/  licence fee  Subsistence charge  Verification charges  Additional permit costs  Variation permit  Total cost 
			 RAF Lossiemouth 530 2,110 1,116  240 3,996 
			 RAF Fylingdales 530 2,110 1,116  0 3,756 
			 RAF Brize Norton 530 2,110 1,116  480 4,236 
			 RAF Wyton 530 2,110 1,116  0 3,756 
			 RAF Waddington 530 2,110 1,116  240 3,996 
			 RAF Halton 530 2,110 1,116  240 3,996 
			 RAF Lyneham 530 2,110 1,116  480 4,236 
			 Turners GenerationFylingdales 530 2,110 1,138  0 3,778 
			 DCAE Cosford 530 2,110 1,116  240 3,996 
			 RAF High Wycombe 530 2,110 1,116  240 3,996 
			 RAF Marham 530 2,110 1,116  240 3,996 
			 RAF Aldergrove 530 2,110 1,116  0 3,756 
			 3AF Kinloss 530 2,110 1,116  240 3,996 
			 RAF Stafford 530 2,110 1,116  480 4,236 
			 RAF Cottesmore 530 2,110 1,116  240 3,996 
			 RAF Honington 530 2,110 1,116  240 3,996 
			 RAF Coningsby 530 2,110 1,116  240 3,996 
			 RAF St. Athan 530 2,260 1,116  240 4,146 
			 RAF total permits bought(1)165,250  165,250 
			 RNAS Culdrose 530 2,260 1,429.59 20,417.40 240 24,877.00 
			 HMS Collingwood 530 2,260 1,429.59 24,691 0 28,911.00 
			 RNAS Yeovilton 530 2,110 1,429.59 22,914 240 27,224.00 
			 HMS Sultan 530 2,110 1,429.59 0 0 4,070.00 
			
			 RMA Sandhurst 530 2,500 1,220 17,520  21,770 
			 Wattisham Airfield 530 2,500 1,220 9,708  13,958 
			 Prince Phillip Barracks 530 2,500 1,220 16,487  20,737 
			 Colchester Garrison 530 2,500 1,220 4,770  9,020 
			 Aldershot Military Power Station 530 2,260 1,220 0  4,010 
			 Brompton Barracks 530 2,500 1,220 0  4,250 
			
			 Bicester Garrison 240 2,110 4,712 17,238 240 24,540 
			 Donnington 240 2,110 4,712 79,000  86,062 
			 HMNB Faslane Babcock Naval Services Ltd. 510 2,110 4,250 0  6,870 
			 RNAD Coulport - Babcock Naval Services Ltd. 510 2,110 4,250 0  6,870 
			 HMNB Portsmouth - Fleet Support Ltd. 1,230 2,110 2,500 0  5,840 
			   526,119 
			 (1) Permits allocated to individual RAF stations as required.  Registration/licence fee Fee for permit to operate under the scheme.  Subsistence charge Annual subsistence charges, payable to the regulatory body (Environment Agency/SEPA) to cover costs of regulation.  Verification charge Charge for annual verified emissions report carried out by regulatory body approved verifiers.  Additional permit costs  Cost of buying additional permits/allowances above initial free allocation.  Variation permit Cost payable when installation varies its permit by, for example, adding or removing generating plant that would effect the total emissions.

Falklands War Commemoration

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that events sponsored by the Government to commemorate the 25(th) anniversary of the Falklands war include Argentine representatives and the families of those killed in the conflict; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: The events commemorating the 25(th) anniversary of the Falklands war in 2007 will remember and honour those who fought and those who died on both sides. No decisions have yet been made on attendance.

FIFA World Cup

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which matches  (a) he and  (b) other Ministers in his Department attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in their ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contributions from third party organisations.

Tom Watson: No Defence Minister has attended any of the FIFA World Cup 2006 matches in Germany.

FRES

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the  (a) armoured personnel carriers and  (b) other armoured platforms being considered for the future rapid effects system offer significant mine and improvised explosive device protection.

Adam Ingram: The ability to achieve the required level of protection is a key factor in the assessment of the future rapid effects system, candidate systems and technologies and will be taken fully into account in deciding which option to take forward.

Future Aircraft Carrier

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans his Department has developed for the Future Aircraft Carrier project if the UK is unable to negotiate access to US stealth technology and flight control software for the Joint Strike Fighter.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 5 July 2006
	As I said in my answer to the hon. Member on 29 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 535-36W, we remain fully committed to the Future Aircraft Carrier programme and are optimistic that our negotiations with the US administration on the transfer of technology and software for the Joint Strike Fighter will be successful. None the less, appropriate actions have been and will continue to be undertaken to ensure that we have the necessary contingency plans should circumstances change. We are not prepared to discuss those in any more detail.

Gurkhas

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has undertaken into the living conditions of Gurkhas who have completed their service and are living  (a) in the UK and  (b) abroad.

Tom Watson: holding answer 3 July 2006
	No specific research has been carried out. Ex-Gurkhas living in the United Kingdom are covered by similar after-care arrangements to those of their colleagues in other Army regiments. Headquarters Brigade of Gurkhas works with Gurkha Regimental Associations, the Veterans Agency and organisations such as the Royal British Legion, and any issues concerning ex-Gurkhas' living conditions that are relevant to their former service, would be brought to my attention through these sources.
	Traditionally, Gurkhas retire to Nepal, where they live as Nepalese citizens in their own country and their living conditions are primarily the responsibility of their own Government. The Gurkha Welfare Trust, whose work is supported by my Department, maintains a network of welfare centres throughout Nepal providing individual and community assistance, and provides any information we require. Additionally, we assess economic conditions in Nepal every year to inform the annual review of Gurkha pension rates.
	We know that ex-Gurkhas work in a number of other countries, but it is neither practical nor appropriate for us to seek information on their living conditions there.

Gurkhas

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the number of Gurkhas who have completed their service who are living  (a) in the UK and  (b) abroad.

Tom Watson: holding answer 3 July 2006
	We do not monitor the movements of ex-Gurkhas after they have left the Army, therefore we can only provide information based on pension statistics. As of today, 20,426 Gurkhas are in receipt of service pensions. Of these, all are drawing their pensions in Nepal except for 99 drawing them in the United Kingdom and 15 in other countries. The Gurkha Welfare Trust pays pensions to a further 10,542 ex-Gurkhas who are not entitled to service pensions.

Gurkhas

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of Gurkha pension payments in each year since 1997; and what the additional cost would be of providing pensions to Gurkha soldiers on the same terms as British servicemen and women.

Tom Watson: holding answer 4 July 2006
	We pay over 26,000 Gurkha service pensions to retired soldiers and their dependants amounting last year to some 33 million. The figures for earlier years as far back as 1997 are not centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The option of transferring Gurkhas to the armed forces pension scheme is being explored as part of the wider review of Gurkha Terms and Conditions of Service, which was announced on 11 January 2005,  Official Report, column 10WS, and which is due to be completed later this year. The scope of the review is however restricted to current members of the Brigade of Gurkhas and those who retired on or after 1 July 1997.

Gurkhas

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost would be of compensating all living Gurkhas, who have completed their service, for pension payments received below levels provided to British servicemen and women serving at the same time.

Tom Watson: holding answer 4 July 2006
	Gurkha soldiers are members of the Gurkha pension scheme, which reflects their unique terms and conditions of service and is not comparable to the armed forces pension scheme. This position was vindicated by a judicial review in 2003. Compensation would not therefore be appropriate.

Hawk Fighter Jets

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the  (a) effectiveness and  (b) employment relations impact of the Babcock contract for service and repair of Hawk Fighter Jets at RAF Valley in north Wales.

Adam Ingram: The effectiveness of Babcock Defence Services in relation to the multi-activity contract at RAF Valley is regularly monitored and evaluated. The Ministry of Defence maintains good relations with Babcock which has met and continues to meet the outputs specified in the contract. Employment relations within Babcock are a matter between the company and its work force. We currently have no concerns regarding their impact on the delivery of the contract.

Helicopter Searches

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2006,  Official Report, column 40W, on helicopter searches, what arrangements exist between the Chiltern Air Support Unit and RAF Benson for the use of facilities at RAF Benson by  (a) police helicopters and  (b) other aircraft operated by the Chiltern Air Support Unit; and what such arrangements existed in July 2003 .

Adam Ingram: A single police helicopter of the Chiltern Air Support Unit has been located at RAF Benson Station since March 1998. This arrangement is undertaken through an operating agreement between the police and RAF Benson. This agreement is in conjunction with a ground lease which has allowed Thames Valley Police to locate their own temporary building at the site. RAF Benson charges the Chiltern Air Support Unit the standard Government departmental charge for aviation fuel. The unit used a Squirrel helicopter at RAF Benson until April 1999, when it was superseded by an EC 135. No other police helicopters or any other aircraft operated by the Chiltern Air Support Unit have ever been located at RAF Benson.

Helicopters

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK helicopters are deployed in  (a) Afghanistan and  (b) Iraq; what requests have been made by commanders for further helicopter support; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: We regularly review force levels, in consultation with commanders and based on military advice, and amend our plans as necessary. However, it has been the general policy of successive Governments not to divulge details of the military capability, including numbers of specific vehicle assets, deployed on operations, since to do so would reveal the strength and capability of UK forces operating in operational theatres, which could have bearing on our operational security, and thereby place our servicemen and women in additional unnecessary danger or potential harm. Where Ministers have, upon occasion, seen fit to release details of military capability in operational theatres, this has been in circumstances where such additional risk is judged not to apply, and greater detail can be offered in order to better inform the parliamentary debate.

Holocaust

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the work of his Department in assisting organisations who aim to enable veterans and survivors of  (a) war and  (b) the holocaust to share their experiences with children and young people;
	(2)  what support his Department gives to organisations that aim to enable veterans of  (a) war and  (b) the holocaust to share their experiences with children and young people.

Tom Watson: There are a number of programmes designed to enable veterans to share their experiences with young people. Funding has been made available to support such programmes through the Veterans Challenge Fund and through regional funding for Veterans Day events. As part of its Their Past Your Future programme linked to the commemoration of the 60(th) anniversary of the end of the second world war, the Big Lottery Fund has also provided money to facilitate world war two veterans sharing their war experiences with children and young people.
	We are currently discussing with the Holocaust Education Trust how we might bring together veteran liberators and holocaust survivors as part of future Veterans Day events.

Holocaust

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of British servicemen made during the second world war, with particular reference to the saving of victims of the holocaust.

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to commemorate the role of British servicemen during the second world war in saving victims of the holocaust.

Tom Watson: We owe a debt of gratitude to all those servicemen and women who served our country during world war two. The events in 2005 to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of that war provided a national commemoration of their service and sacrifices. Notable among the achievement of the armed forces was the role they played in liberating and caring for victims of the holocaust. This milestone in the war was marked in one of the commemorative booklets which the Department published on world war two under the title The Liberation of the Death and Concentration Camps, Europe, June 1944 - May 1945. Copies are still available by request to the Veterans Helpline (08001692277)
	The launch this year of an annual Veterans Day on 27 June to celebrate the contribution made by all veterans has provided another opportunity to commemorate such important events in the history of our nation. In future years we hope to bring together veteran liberators and holocaust survivors as part of Veterans Day commemorative events.

Injured British Servicemen (Treatment)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many armed forces personnel in  (a) the Army,  (b) the Royal Air Force and  (c) the Royal Navy who were medically discharged from the armed services for injuries sustained in Iraq in each year since 2003 are being treated at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak hospital, Birmingham;
	(2)  how many armed forces personnel in  (a) the Army,  (b) the Royal Air Force and  (c) the Royal Navy who have been medically discharged from the armed services for injuries sustained in Afghanistan in each year since 2002 are being treated at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak hospital, Birmingham.

Des Browne: None. Once an individual is discharged from the armed forces the responsibility for continued medical care transfers to the NHS.

Iraq

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has carried out strategic analyses of the experiences from the use of improvised explosive devices by the counter-insurgency in Iraq; whether he has made an assessment of whether the tactics used by the insurgents in that theatre are likely to be met elsewhere in future British Army deployments; and what the implications are for  (a) force structures,  (b) equipment,  (c) tactics and  (d) training for (i) medium-weight armoured formations and (ii) other formations intended for deployment as a rapid reaction force.

Adam Ingram: We constantly assess all threats to UK forces deployed in theatre at the strategic, operational and tactical level, including evaluating whether these threats are likely to migrate to other theatres in the future.
	The Ministry of Defence has an established process to review operational experiences, which provides the primary mechanism whereby we can translate lessons and best practice into enhanced capability. As a result force structures, for both deployed and reaction forces, equipment, tactics and supporting training are continuously evolving in order to meet counter-insurgency threats in the most effective manner. The MOD does not comment in detail on specific measures taken in order to preserve operational security, and to protect the effectiveness, capability and security of UK and coalition forces.

Iraq

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the costs to the UK of security operations in Iraq since 2003.

Des Browne: The cost of military operations in Iraq for the years 2002-03 to 2004-05 are:
	
		
			   million 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Operations in Iraq 629 1,051 747 
			 Expenditure on capital equipment 218 260 163 
			 Total 847 1,311 910 
		
	
	This gives an overall total of 3,068 million.
	The costs of operations are calculated on a net additional basis and audited figures are published each year in the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts.
	The MOD requested resources of 1,098 million for 2005-06 in the Spring Supplementary Estimates published in February. Final figures will be published in the MOD's 2005-06 Annual Report and Accounts later this year.

Iraq Medal

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which journalists who were not employed directly as media personnel by the Ministry of Defence have  (a) applied for,  (b) received, (c) not yet received and  (d) declined the Iraq medal.

Tom Watson: In June 2004, media organisations with employees who deployed as war correspondents with United Kingdom forces during Operation Telic were informed of their entitlement to the award of the campaign medal in accordance with DCI Gen 170/04. As a result, the Ministry of Defence received 74 requests for the medal with clasp from entitled media personnel, of which 62 had been distributed to the recipients as at 3 June 2006. The remaining 12 are held pending collection or confirmation of required postal address. Five entitled war correspondents notified the MOD that they did not wish to be considered for the award.
	The term war correspondent includes media support staff as well as journalists and broadcast reporters; thus, camera/sound crew, producers, editors, photographers and other support staff are included in the definition. These personnel are also entitled to the medal as detailed in the DCI and are included among the 74 requests made to the MOD.

Judicial Review

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions an  (a) individual and  (b) organisation has applied for a judicial review of decisions of his Department in each year since 1997; and what the outcome was of each case where proceedings have been completed.

Tom Watson: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Kandahar Airport

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft are based at Kandahar airport, broken down by type; and what radar capability each type possesses.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the announcements made in the House on 26 January and 25 April 2006, the details of which remain correct. Coalition aircraft are based in Kandahar, but I am withholding the current locations and specific capabilities of each asset deployed as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the security of the armed forces.

Lyons Review

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in implementing the recommendations of the Lyons review; what the targets are for the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: The Ministry of Defence is committed to relocating 3,900 posts out of the south-east as a result of the Lyons review, and is on target to meet this obligation. To date, 1,870 posts have been relocated.
	The MOD does not set interim targets for the numbers of posts to be redistributed, but other relocation projects, which will allow us to meet our Lyons commitment by the deadline of 2010, are at varying stages of maturity. Where appropriate, the details of these will be announced in due course.

Helicopters

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will purchase a quantity of light observation helicopters similar to the Kiowa type used by the US armed forces, for use as routine convoy and ground vehicle patrol escorts in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: British forces in Iraq have Lynx light utility helicopters which can be used for escort duties if commanders judge that appropriate. There are currently no plans to purchase Kiowa helicopters.

Ministerial Engagements

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 26 June 2006,  Official Report, column 164W, on engagements, on which occasions Ministers from his Department  (a) met and  (b) otherwise communicated with officers from Thames Valley police between 1 July 2003 and 31 August 2003.

Des Browne: No Ministry of Defence Ministers met any officers from the Thames Valley police between 1 July and 31 August 2003, nor is there any record of any other communication.

Ministerial Engagements

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) his and  (b) each of his Ministers' official engagements were for Monday 3 July 2006.

Tom Watson: The Defence Secretary was engaged on constituency business. His engagements included surgeries at Muirkirk, Logan, Lugar, Auchinleck, Sorn and Catrine.
	The Minister for the Armed Forces spent the day visiting staff at the Defence Procurement Agency in Bristol and the Defence Logistics Organisation in Bath to brief them on changes announced in the House that day, 3 July 2006,  Official Report, column 27WS.
	The Minister for Defence Procurement had one meeting in his office in London with officials before conducting media interviews. He then travelled to Bristol to join the Minister for the Armed Forces before returning to London to repeat the Afghanistan statement in the House of Lords.
	I attended the House for an urgent question, for which I prepared by meeting officials in the Ministry of Defence. Following the urgent question, I held a meeting with an MOD official and a meeting with my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, North (Mr. Austin).

Osprey Body Armour

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of troops serving in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan have been issued with Osprey body armour.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 15 June 2006
	All troops deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan are issued with Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA) as standard. The delivery of Improved Performance Body Armour (known as 'Osprey') sets to Iraq and Afghanistan is well under way, and will be provided in addition to ECBA to all personnel who require it. Delivery to both theatres is expected to be substantially complete by late autumn. I am not prepared to comment on detailed percentages as to do so would reveal the present strength and capability of UK forces and potentially compromise operational security by placing our servicemen and women in additional unnecessary danger or potential harm.

Oxfordshire Coroner

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contacts took place between departmental  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials and the Oxfordshire Coroner between 17 July 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Des Browne: No departmental Minister or official had contact with the Oxfordshire Coroner between 17 July 2003 and 31 March 2004 in connection with Dr Kelly. Liaison between the Oxfordshire Coroner and Government on this matter was through the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Personnel and Equipment Requests

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether requests from the heads of each of the armed forces for  (a) personnel and  (b) equipment for deployment in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan have been refused since the start of the present deployment.

Des Browne: holding answer 4 July 2006
	Chiefs of Staff collectively consider and endorse force packages for the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the Department's process of regular review. Ministers have agreed every recommendation made by the Chiefs of Staff in relation to present deployments in either theatre of operations.

Peugeot Vehicles

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Department has spent on Peugeot motor vehicles in each of the past 10 years.

Adam Ingram: The Department's non-operational vehicles are provided under the terms of two separate contracts, one for the United Kingdom and one for Germany. For the UK a contract was placed in 2001 with Lex Defence Management Ltd (LDM) now known as VT Land (White Fleet Management) Ltd, and for Germany in 1996 with Ryder plc. The vehicles are not owned by the Department and are provided by service contracts in output terms rather than by a specific vehicle model. A breakdown of individual model types for these contracts is not therefore available.
	Information prior to the award of these contracts is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

PO Contracts

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for which services  (a) his Department and  (b) its associated public bodies hold contracts with the Post Office; and what the (i) start and (ii) termination date is of each contract.

Tom Watson: British Forces Post Office (BFPO) has an arrangement with Post Office Counters Ltd for the provision of services at Forces Post Offices counters deployed overseas. This includes the sale of postage stamps, postal orders, National Savings and investment transactions, and payments of allowances etc. in deployed forces post offices. BFPO receives a commission for providing this service. The agreement, which came into force on 24 May 1995, has now expired, although the service continues to be provided. A new contract is being re-negotiated with Royal Mail Group.

RAF Northolt

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian movements are authorised at RAF Northolt; how many such movements have taken place in each of the past five years; and whether he plans to change the maximum number.

Tom Watson: The following table shows the total number of civil commercial aircraft movements at RAF Northolt in the past five calendar years:
	
		
			   Number of civilian commercial aircraft movements 
			 2005 7,001 
			 2004 6,999 
			 2003 6,989 
			 2002 7,002 
			 2001 Below 7,000 
			  Notes: Specific figures for 2001 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. 
		
	
	Civil commercial aircraft movements at RAF Northolt are subject to a self-imposed limit of 7,000 per calendar year which has been in place since the 1980s.
	As expressed by my right hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (John Reid), the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces when he informed the House on 30 June 1998,  Official Report, columns 272-3, any changes to the number of civilian commercial aircraft movements would be subject to full consultation with the local authority and all interested parties.

Rarden Cannon

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the life expectancy is of the 30 mm Rarden cannon;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of rounds which can be fired by the 30 mm Rarden cannon before the barrel needs to be replaced;
	(3)  how many 30 mm Rarden cannons are used by the  (a) Warrior,  (b) Scimitar and  (c) Sabre vehicles;
	(4)  how many of the 30 mm Rarden cannons in use by the British military will need to be replaced in the next two financial years; and at what estimated cost.

Adam Ingram: The Rarden cannon is planned to be withdrawn from service in 2025 and there is currently no requirement to replace any cannons over the next two years. There are currently 575 cannons fitted to Warrior and 329 fitted to Scimitar. Sabre was removed from service in 2004. Each Rarden cannon barrel is changed after 3,750 effective full charges have been fired.

Service Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to improve service housing.

Tom Watson: holding answer 6 July 2006
	A Housing Prime Contract valued at some 700 million over seven years has recently been awarded which provides for the repair and maintenance of the Ministry of Defence's housing in England and Wales. Together with the Regional Prime Contract in Scotland, the Housing Prime Contract will ensure improved maintenance of housing and provide better value for money through efficiencies. The MOD expects to spend around 25 million in the current financial year to upgrade some 1,200 properties to the highest standard of condition across the United Kingdom. Our aim is to deliver a minimum of 900 upgrades per year over the subsequent four years.
	Overseas, there is a major project in Cyprus, valued at 58 million, to construct 269 new service families accommodations (SFA) between April 2007 and March 2011. In addition, a rolling project valued at 20 million will refurbish SFA throughout Gibraltar, and a further project is set to deliver 12 new SFA in the Falkland Islands by the end of 2007. There is also a major project, funded by the Sultan of Brunei, to provide new SFA for the British garrison in Brunei which will run in two five-year phases from mid 2006.

Shoeburyness Ranges

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcomes were of the review of activities at the Shoeburyness Ranges; and whether he plans to relocate any of these activities elsewhere.

Tom Watson: holding answer 6 July 2006
	The review into demilitarisation activities at Shoeburyness was completed on schedule by the end of March 2006. I have given initial consideration to all the conclusions made by officials, including the potential for relocating some demilitarisation activities. I have asked for additional advice to inform a more detailed consideration of all the options identified by the review. When that has been completed, I will present the way forward to MPs and the public. I expect to be able to do this shortly.

Territorial Army (Records)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre records include information on the units to which members of the Territorial Army are mobilised.

Tom Watson: The Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre records include information on the units to which mobilised members of the Territorial Army are initially posted. They do not, however, include information on subsequent postings to other units.

Thames Gateway

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what departmental land in Kent has been earmarked for release to facilitate the implementation of the Thames Gateway project; what the timetable is for release; what the forecast capital receipts are; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: It is Ministry of Defence (MOD) policy that the defence estate should be no larger than necessary for operational purposes. Land and buildings, for which there is no present or future requirement, are disposed of as soon as possible in line with Treasury guidelines. A major MOD rationalisation project that could potentially provide land for redevelopment in Kent involves the Royal School of Military Engineering private finance initiative (PFI). Their preferred bidder, Holdfast Training Services, has identified a number of sites for potential release between 2006 and 2012, primarily within the Thames Gateway. Options for taking the PFI forward are under consideration and MOD is liaising with other Departments and stakeholders. It is too early to make any decision on what land might eventually be released.
	It is not our practice to release disposal valuations in advance of completion of sale, as to do so could influence the market and would not be in the interests of the taxpayer generally.

Training Exercises

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of training exercises have been cancelled in each of the past five years.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Exercise Programme has recorded the following percentage of cancelled exercises in each of the past five years:
	
		
			  Financial year  Percentage 
			 2001-02 20 
			 2002-03 43 
			 2003-04 34 
			 2004-05 20 
			 2005-06 14 
			 2006-07 (to date in financial year) 5 
		
	
	While specific reasons for cancellation are not available in many cases, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, the programme continues to be affected by competing operational priorities.

Trident

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Trident nuclear weapons programme cost in each of the past five years.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 July 2006,  Official Report, column 713W, to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone).

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Academies

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact of academies' educational achievement in areas of educational deprivation.

Jim Knight: We have commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to carry out an independent five-year evaluation of the academies programme. The third annual report is due to be published later this month. The 2005 report concluded that there is a significant difference in the learning culture in new Academies, compared to their predecessors and that 97 per cent. of staff think that the principal really believes that the academy can make a difference to the pupils' learning whatever their family background. It also highlighted:
	A generally positive endorsement of the sponsors' role, particularly in terms of establishing a vision for academies and bringing to bear additional resources and expertise.
	Strongly positive feedback, particularly amongst pupils, of the role played by academy principals in terms of transforming the learning culture and raising pupils' aspirations
	Clear evidence of innovative approaches being adopted by academies to the curriculum, staffing, teaching and learning and timetabling
	Evidence of the new academies impacting positively on some aspects of pupil behaviour; and
	innovative approaches being adopted in relation to the design of new academy buildings, and broadly positive feedback from staff, pupils and parents about the overall impact of the new buildings on teaching and learning.
	In 2005, academies improved results by nearly 8 percentage points compared to 2004. This is three times the national average increase of 2.4 percentage points. The average five or more A*-C GCSE results of the 14 academies with pupils sitting GCSEs was 36.4 per cent. in 2005, compared to an average 21 per cent. in their predecessor schools in 2002.
	David Bell, formerly Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools said last year about standards in academies that in some cases, what has been achieved in a short time is nothing less than remarkable.

Adult Learners

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has commissioned into the social profile of adult learners in West Lancashire.

Bill Rammell: The Department has not commissioned research into the social profile of adult learners specifically in West Lancashire. However, we do have some social profile information on West Lancashire adults who have been taking part in learning funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The following information is based on providers' returns to the LSC's Individual Learner Record database for the 2004/05 academic year.
	A total of 6,196 adults (aged 19+) from the West Lancashire constituency took part in LSC-funded further education courses in the 2004/05 academic year. In addition, 478 West Lancashire adults took part in work-based learning courses; and 2,079 West Lancashire adults took part in adult and community learning courses. The breakdown of these adults in terms of gender, age, ethnicity and disability is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1. Participation by gender 
			  Percentage 
			   Women  Men 
			 Further education 65 35 
			 Work-based learning 54 46 
			 Adult and community learning 78 22 
		
	
	The proportion of women in West Lancashire who took part in work-based learning is higher than the national average. The proportion of women who took part in further education is also slightly higher than the national average, whereas the proportion of women in adult and community learning is the same as the national average.
	
		
			  Table 2. Participation by age band. 
			  Percentage 
			   19-24  25-59  60 and over 
			 Further education 15 73 11 
			 Work-based learning 97 3 0 
			 Adult and community learning 4 61 35 
		
	
	The age profile of students in West Lancashire in these three types of learning is very similar to the national age profile of students in these three types of learning.
	
		
			  Table 3. Participation by ethnicity 
			  Percentage 
			   White British  Any other white background  Non-white background  Not known/not provided 
			 Further education 92 2 2 4 
			 Work-based learning 96 0 2 2 
			 Adult and community learning 94 0 1 5 
		
	
	The proportion of West Lancashire people from non-white backgrounds in all three types of learning is much lower than the national average. This reflects the low proportion of non-white people in the West Lancashire constituency.
	
		
			  Table 4. Participation by disability 
			  Percentage 
			   Learner has a disability or learning difficulty  Learner does not have a disability or learning difficulty  No information provided by the learner 
			 Further education 11 79 10 
			 Work-based learning 8 90 2 
			 Adult and community learning 8 88 4 
		
	
	The proportion of disabled adults in West Lancashire who took part in these three types of learning is close to the national average. Note that these learners reported their own disability status and were not assessed.
	Many other aspects of the social profile of adult learners are analysed on a national basis in the Department's National Adult Learning Survey. The latest version (for 2002)(1) is available from the House of Commons Library, and the Department plans to publish the 2005 version in September.
	(1) Fitzgerald R, Taylor R  LaValle I. National Adult Learning Survey 2002, DfES Research report RR415.

A-levels

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many A-levels, on average, were achieved by pupils whose parents  (a) both have A-levels and  (b) have none in the last period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The following table shows estimates from the Youth Cohort Study (YCS) of the average number of A/AS-levels held by young people at academic age 18 broken down by the number of their parents who are qualified to at least A-level.
	
		
			  A/AS-level of attainment by academic age 18 by parental attainment 
			  Number of parents reported as qualified to at least A-level  Average number of A/AS levels( 1)  attained by young person 
			 None 0.9 
			 One 1.6 
			 Two 2.0 
			 (1) AS-levels count as 0.5 A-levels   Source:  Youth Cohort Study, Cohort 11, sweep 3, spring 2004

British Empire

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the draft changes to the key stage 3 curriculum about the British Empire; and whether there are plans to extend these changes to teach more on the British Empire at  (a) key stage (i) 1 and (ii) 2 and  (b) GCSE.

Jim Knight: The key stage 3 review is still in the early stages and these are early drafts of the new curriculum which will need further work before they are agreed. A formal consultation on the new curriculum will not begin until February 2007 and the new curriculum is not due to be implemented in schools until September 2008. It would be inappropriate to comment on the detail of any draft proposals until the QCA has carried out this further work and submitted formal advice to the Department.
	There are no plans to make changes to key stage 1 and 2 or GCSE history at the moment.

Bullying

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding is planned to be made available to schools in West Lancashire for anti-bullying campaigns in each of the next five years.

Jim Knight: The Department does not make funding available to individual schools for anti-bullying purposes. However, in the current financial year we propose to make 1.4 million available to support anti-bullying initiatives. All of the organisations involved in taking forward these initiatives will be working with local authorities and other partners to help embed effective practice in schools. Budgets beyond the current financial year have yet to be decided.

Bullying

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will require schools to monitor and record incidents of homophobic bullying.

Jim Knight: We have no plans to require schools to monitor and record incidents of bullying, including incidents of a homophobic nature. Schools are, however, required to record details of any racist bullying incidents which occur.
	Many individual schools and local authorities do record incidents of bullying, and we welcome this as best practice within our anti-bullying guidance to schools, Don't Suffer in Silence. Furthermore, in line with commitments outlined in the White Paper, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All (October 2005), we shall be issuing guidance to schools in spring 2007 on how to prevent and tackle homophobic bullying.

Child Abuse

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what national records he keeps of child abuse incidents.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Education and Skills collects information annually about children's social care from all 150 local authorities with social services responsibilities in England. Information is collected and stored on the number of children who are referred to social services departments, assessments made of whether the child is in need of any services and the number subsequently placed on the child protection register. A child is placed on the child protection register when it is decided that further action to safeguard their welfare is required as the child is at a continuing risk of harm.

Class Sizes

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size is in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in West Lancashire constituency.

Jim Knight: The available information is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Maintained primary and secondary schools( 1) : average class size( 2 ) 2006( 3) position in January, West Lancashire parliamentary constituency, 
			   Average class size 
			 Primary 24.7 
			 Secondary 21.3 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed.  (2) Classes taught by one teacher during a single selected period on the Census day in January.  (3 )Provisional. 
		
	
	Final 2006 class size data will be published in September.

Classroom Heating

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school classrooms are unheated.

Jim Knight: We are not aware of any classrooms that are unheated. There are requirements for all classrooms to be heated to a minimum temperature of 18(o) C in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 (www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1999/99000202 .htm#16) and The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2003.

Community Family Trusts

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills under what programme he envisages future funding for community family trusts to be provided; whether such trusts are eligible for funding from the Children, Young People and Families Grant scheme for national programmes; and what the criteria are for the scheme.

Parmjit Dhanda: Community family trusts will continue to be eligible to apply for funding under the Children, Young People and Families Grant programme. The criteria for the scheme in 2007/08 have yet to be announced, but details will shortly be placed on www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/strategv/voluntarvand community/cypfgrant/.

Community Family Trusts

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which community family trusts received funding for 2006-07; and under what grant programme such funding was made available.

Parmjit Dhanda: Time for Families received funding in 2006-07, under the Children, Young People and Families Grant programme.

Deaf Children

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to raise the educational attainment of deaf children in  (a) West Lancashire and  (b) Lancashire.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice provides advice to local authorities, and schools on their statutory duties to identify, assess and make provision for children who have special educational needs, including children who are deaf. The code sets out a graduated approach to providing support. Many children who are deaf will have statements of SEN. All statements must be reviewed at least annually. The purpose of the review is to consider a children's progress, to ensure they are achieving desired outcomes and, if necessary, to amend their statements to reflect newly identified needs and provision.
	In addition, the development of the new relationship with schools brings a focus on how well schools meet the needs of all their pupils. All schools will carry out an annual self-evaluation and publish a single plan setting out their priorities for improvement in which they will need to show how all their pupils are achieving. This process will highlight any gaps in achievement between different groups of children, which will then be discussed with a locally appointed school improvement partner.
	The White Paper Higher Standards, Better Schools for All published in October 2005, which builds on Removing Barriers to Achievement published in February 2004, promotes a more effectively tailored education for all children with special educational needs by increasing the sharing of expertise between special and mainstream schools, by equipping the workforce with appropriate skills, knowledge, awareness and confidence and by promoting more effective measurement of, and accountability for, the progress made by pupils with SEN across a wide range of abilities. The White Paper also set out our plans for personalised learning; these include providing targeted support for groups of children who are at risk of under achieving, including those with SEN. We will spend an additional 565 million by 2007-08 to support schools to tailor teaching to the needs of all their pupils.

Carbon Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the carbon emissions of his Department; what commitment he has made to reducing such emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department's most recent data on carbon emissions covers the period April 2004 to March 2005.
	Carbon emissions for the Department's five main headquarter buildings in 2004/05 were 31 kgC/M2(1).
	The Department's Sustainable Development Action plan commits us to achieving the targets set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate (the Framework) The Department aims to achieve this through:
	Embedding Sustainable Development into all DfES operational activity thereby demonstrating more effective delivery, reduced costs and improved progress against Government targets; and
	Increasing awareness of sustainable development to gain wider buy-in and commitment from DfES staff.
	(1) The figure presented above is based on kilograms of carbon emitted per square metre of lettable area in our HQ buildings. This figure excludes carbon emissions from road vehicles used for Government administrative operations as this information is not currently held.

Departmental Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what draft Bills have been produced by his Department since October 2005; how many were  (a) examined and  (b) are planned to be examined by (i) a departmental Select Committee and (ii) a Joint Committee; which draft Bills are still to be produced by his Department; when each is expected to be published; how many clauses each has; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Education and Skills has not produced any draft Bills for pre-legislative scrutiny since October 2005. Announcements on future legislation and future draft legislation which will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny will be indicated in the Queen's Speech.

Education Finance

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding Swindon received for  (a) primary,  (b) secondary and  (c) further education in each year between 1996-97 and 2006-07.

Jim Knight: The Department does not have any figures prior to 1997-98. However, the following table sets out the total funding received by Swindon local education authority for its primary and secondary schools for the years 1997-98 to 2005-06. The Department does not collect figures for further education.
	
		
			   million 
			   Total funding 
			   Three to 10-year-olds  11 to 15-year-olds 
			 1997-98 40.1 32.0 
			 1998-99 41.8 33.6 
			 1999-2000 45.6 36.0 
			 2000-01 49.2 39.8 
			 2001-02 51.8 41.6 
			 2002-03 52.7 42.8 
			 2003-04 56.9 45.3 
			 2004-05 58.3 47.0 
			 2005-06 61.7 48.8 
			  Notes:  1. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged three to 10 and 11 to 15 and exclude Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level.  2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of Standard Spending Assessment/Education Formula Spending (EFS) settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS.  3. Where responsibility for funding a school has transferred from an authority, related funding no longer appears in the series.  4. Figures are rounded to the nearest 0.1 million. Real terms at 2004-05 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 23 December 2005.  5. 2003-04 to 2005-06 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited. 
		
	
	The following figures are taken from the new Dedicated Schools Grant. They are not comparable with those for the earlier years.
	
		
			million 
			 2005-06 Baseline 92.985 
			 2006-07 DSG 99.650 
			  Notes:  1. The figures from 1997-98 to 2005-06 are based on Education Formula Spending (EFS) which forms the Education part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus various grants. This is an assessment of what local authorities need to fund education rather than what they spend, in 2006-07 funding for schools changed with the introduction of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) which is based largely on an authority's previous spending.  2. The DSG has a different coverage to EFS. EFS was made of both a schools and an LEA block to cover LEA central functions. DSG only covers the schools block, LEA block items are still funded through the Local Government Finance Settlement and cannot be separately identified. This means the two sets of figures are not comparable. A new funding series is currently being developed by the Department.  3. There are other grants that support the schools budget. These are not included in the provided DSG figures as some of these grant figures are not yet available.  4. Figures are in cash terms and include the pensions transfer.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of students receiving the education maintenance allowance have gone on to study in higher education.

Parmjit Dhanda: The national education maintenance allowance (EMA) scheme was rolled out to 16-year-olds in the 2004/05 academic year and therefore these young people will not be entering higher education (HE) until the 2006/07 academic year at the earliest. Some young people may also take three years in post-compulsory education to achieve the qualifications necessary to enter higher education, or may defer entry. As a result, no data is currently available on the progression of these students into HE.
	The Learning and Skills Council (which operates the scheme on behalf of DfES), is commissioning evaluation that will, when appropriate data becomes available, examine the impact of EMA on subsequent application to, and participation in, higher education.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been paid through the education maintenance allowance scheme.

Parmjit Dhanda: The total amount of education maintenance allowance (EMA) payments made to students from the start of the EMA pilots in September 1999 up to the end of the financial year 2005-06, is 996.98 million.

Ergonomic Classroom Facilities

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what requirements his Department is placing on school planners to install ergonomic classroom facilities in schools under the Building Schools for the Future programme; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not place any specific requirement on school planners to install ergonomic classroom facilities in schools under the Building Schools for the Future programme, or its other capital programmes. This is a matter for local decision-making.
	However, good quality design is given a high priority within Building Schools for the Future. This includes designing all classrooms to meet the ergonomic needs of all staff and pupils, including those with special needs and disabilities, by providing adequate space and appropriate furniture and equipment.
	The Department has issued a number of guides on school design including one on furniture and equipment. It has also supported the development of a school furniture website which advises on ergonomic issues in schools and it ran a furniture design competition in 2002 with the Design Council to encourage innovative designs for classroom furniture. A forthcoming guide will provide advice on all aspects of designing for pupils with special needs including furniture and equipment.

Examination Marking

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the number of newly qualified teachers marking  (a) A-level and  (b) AS-level papers in subjects that they have never taught; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The regulation of the examinations system is a matter for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). However, it does not collect or hold data relating to the backgrounds of the examiners who are employed by the awarding bodies to mark GCE A and AS-level scripts.

FIFA World Cup

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which matches  (a) he and  (b) other Ministers in his Department attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in their ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contributions from third party organisations.

Parmjit Dhanda: Ministers from the Department for Education and Skills have not attended any FIFA World Cup matches in Germany.

Fire Risk Assessments

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of schools have trained their staff to deal with fire safety risks.

Jim Knight: We do not have this information. However we issued guidance for schools and local authorities in our Managing Schools Facilities Guide Fire Safety. This outlines the training that school staff should receive. See www.teachernet.gov.uk/fire.

Freedom of Information (Trust Schools)

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether trust schools will be covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Parmjit Dhanda: As is the case with all maintained schools, the governing bodies of trust schools will be covered by the Freedom of Information Act.

Grammar Schools

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were educated at grammar schools in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The available information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained Secondary Schools: Number (headcount) of pupils( 1, 2)  , England 
			   Grammar schools  All maintained secondary schools( 3) 
			  Position in January each year: 1997 to 2006( 4)  Number of pupils( 2)  Percentage of pupils( 5)  Number of pupils 
			 1997 128,710 4.2 3,041,580 
			 1998 130,320 4.2 3,072,820 
			 1999 140,880 4.5 3,121,900 
			 2000 141,390 4.4 3,181,810 
			 2001 142,340 4.4 3,231,830 
			 2002 146,190 4.5 3,264,090 
			 2003 149,910 4.5 3,308,030 
			 2004 152,610 4.6 3,324,950 
			 2005 154,070 4.6 3,316,050 
			 2006(4) 155,480 4.7 3,306,780 
			 (1) Excludes dually registered pupils.  (2) Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  (3) All maintained secondary schools, includes grammar schools. Excludes academies and city technology colleges.  (4) Provisional.  (5) The number of pupils in grammar schools expressed as a percentage of pupils across all maintained secondary schools.   Source:  Schools' Census.

Higher Education

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the future higher education needs of West Lancashire; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Department works mainly through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) on matters relating to the expansion of higher education provision in England.
	HEFCE has undertaken a number of reviews, in consultation with interested bodies, of higher education provision in the north. Emanating from this has been a number of proposals for the expansion of HE provision within the Lancashire and Cumbria areas. I expect an announcement to be made later this year on these proposals, including those specific to my hon. Friend's constituency, West Lancashire.

Lockers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many secondary schools in  (a) England and  (b) Sutton have locker facilities for every pupil; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to ensure that each pupil from Years 7 to 11 has access to locker facilities; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We do not collect information about provision of pupil locker facilities. The Department requires school buildings to have facilities for storing pupils' clothes and other belongings, and the Department's recommended area standards for secondary school buildings include an appropriate allowance. Schools make their own decisions about the best way to provide storage; many choose to provide lockers.

Ofsted Early Years

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many out of school services were registered with Ofsted Early Years in Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM chief inspector of schools, Maurice Smith, has written to the hon. Gentleman and a copy of his reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Maurice J Smith, dated 7 July 2006:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	You asked how many out of school services were registered with Ofsted Early Years in Lancashire in each year since 1997.
	In response, the table overleaf shows two sets of figures:
	1. The number of providers who registered each year who offered out of school provision.
	2. The total number of active providers who provided out of school care at the end of each year.
	Ofsted only took over responsibility in September 2001, thus the first full year of data shown is for 2002. The total ODC figure for 2002 is not included as we do not have published figures that go back to this time.
	
		
			  Information on ODC providers in Lancashire local authority 
			   Number of ODC providers registered each year to provide this type of care( 1)  Number of active ODC providers who provide this type of care at the end of each year( 2) 
			 2002 48  
			 2003 49 229 
			 2004 62 271 
			 2005 70 294 
			 (1) Data is based on a snapshot of Ofsted's Regulatory Support Application (RSA) taken on 6 April 2006. Data relates to when providers are eligible to offer out of school provision.  (2) Data is based on unrounded December Quarterly Childcare Statistics 
		
	
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Beverley Hughes and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Olympics

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which officials in his Department  (a) are responsible for Olympics-related activity and  (b) sit on the inter-departmental steering group for the Olympics.

Jim Knight: Helen Williams, director, Curriculum and Pupil Wellbeing, is responsible for Olympics-related activity within the Department for Education and Skills, and is the representative on the inter-departmental group.

Parent and Children Services

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures are  (a) in place and  (b) planned to ensure that public services for parents and children recognise and meet the needs of fathers.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Government recognise the importance of involving both fathers and mothers in the public services for children and families. We are making progress on supporting fathers. For example:
	we have issued guidance to local authorities that sets out our expectations of the way that Sure Start children's centres should personalise services for fathers, offering the support and opportunities they need to engage fully with their parenting role;
	in the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services a marker of good practice is that primary care trusts and local authorities provide targeted information and support for fathers as well as mothers; and
	as part of our work to encourage schools to work more closely with parents, we will particularly focus on the importance of involving fathers.
	The Department will be working closely with the Equal Opportunities Commission in the future to ensure that, as local authorities and other partners plan their services for children, young people and families they are fully aware of the gender equality duty and ensure that fathers and other male carers receive the support they need to achieve the best outcome for children.

Personal Finance Education

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority on how it plans to introduce content on personal finance education into the school curriculum in 2008.

Jim Knight: Ministers and senior officials hold regular discussions with the Financial Services Authority about personal finance education in schools, including the content of personal finance education. DfES continues to work closely with the FSA on the development of it national strategy for promoting financial literacy.

Private Members' Bills

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2006,  Official Report, column 312W, on Private Members' Bills, what estimate he has made of the cost of answering the question; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2006,  Official Report, column 103W, on the Education and Skills Committee, what estimate he has made of the cost of answering the question; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department does not keep a central record of the information requested. An assessment of the staff time and associated costs required to provide answers was estimated to be significantly in excess of the disproportionate cost threshold of 600.

Public Appointments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many public appointments are within his patronage; what  (a) salary and  (b) other emoluments are attached to each; and what the comparable figures were in (i) 1976, (ii) 1986 and (iii) 1996.

Parmjit Dhanda: The numbers of public appointments made by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the remuneration attached to each of the chair and board member appointments of bodies sponsored by my Department are set out in the following table. There are a total of 21 chair and 249 board member appointments. The information is correct as at 1 April 2006 and covers those bodies that fall under the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
	The Department for Education and Skills came into existence in 2001. Comparable figures for appointments made to bodies by the Secretary of State of the Department's predecessors in 1986 and 1996 can be found in public bodies, the annual Cabinet Office publication, prepared by the agencies and public bodies team in the Cabinet Office. Copies are available in the House of Commons Library.
	
		
			  Executive NDPBs 
			  Public body  Remuneration of chair  annual unless stated otherwise ()  Number of Board members  Remuneration of board members (annual unless stated otherwise () 
			 Adult Learning Inspectorate 10,044 7 Unpaid 
			 British Educational Communications and Technology Agency 30,000 7 Unpaid 
			 Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service 523 per day 9 270.30 per day 
			 Construction Industry Training Board 21,420 20 Unpaid 
			 Engineering Construction Industry Training Board 16,580 26 Unpaid 
			 Higher Education Funding Council for England 43,959 13 5,000 
			 Investors in People UK Unpaid 12 Unpaid 
			 Learning and Skills Council for England 51,000 16 4,000 
			 Learning and Skills Council for England  47 Local Chairs 5,000 47 0 
			 National College for School Leadership 41,120  Unpaid 
			 Office for Fair Access 50,000 0 0 
			 Office of the Children's Commissioner 130,000 0 0 
			 Partnerships for Schools 25,000 7 5,000 
			 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Does not draw remuneration 14 Unpaid 
			 Quality Improvement Agency 25,000  Unpaid 
			 School Food Trust 15,000 16 Unpaid 
			 Sector Skills Development Agency 42,881 13 300 per day 
			 Student Loans Company 68,000 5 5,000 
			 Training and Development Agency for Schools 44,037 13 300 per day 
			 
			  Advisory NDPBs   300 per day 
			 Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy 15,000 9 114 per day 
			 School Teachers Review Body 350 per meeting 9 300 per day 
			 Teacher's TV 55,000 6 10,000 per day

Pupil Absence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in each London borough missed at least half a day due to unauthorised absence in  (a) primary schools,  (b) secondary schools,  (c) special schools and  (d) pupil referral units in the last year for which figures are available, expressed as a percentage of pupils of compulsory school age.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.

Pupil Referral Units

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many places are available at pupil referral units in  (a) West Lancashire and  (b) Lancashire; what their occupancy rate is; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information on pupil referral units (PRUs) in Lancashire and West Lancashire is set out in the table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Number of PRU places in Lancashire(1) 709 
			 Number of PRU places in West Lancashire(1) 40 
			 Number of pupils attended PRUs in Lancashire(2) 248 
			 Number of pupils attended PRUs in West Lancashire(2) 27 
			 (1) The number of places available is reported to the Department when a local authority registers a PRU. This denotes the capacity of the PRU.  (2) Pupil numbers are collected via the annual school census and they relate to the 2005 census. The figures relate to the number of pupils on the PRU register on the day of the census. 
		
	
	In addition to educating pupils in PRUs, the local authority make use of other types of alternative educational provision available in the private and voluntary sector to meet the needs of other pupils who are unable to attend mainstream and special schools.
	Data collected from local authorities in January 2005 showed that 947 pupils in Lancashire were benefiting in this way.

Questionnaires

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) questionnaires,  (b) statistical inquiries and  (c) investigations have been carried out wholly or partly at public expense on behalf of or by his Department or public bodies for which he is responsible in each year since 1997; and what the (i) nature, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost was in each case.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information is not available in the format requested. To gather the information in such a way would incur disproportionate costs.

School Funding

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what funding his Department has made available for improvements to school sports facilities in  (a) West Lancashire,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) England in each year between 1997 and 2005;
	(2)  what funding his Department has made available for improvements to school music facilities in  (a) West Lancashire,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) England in each academic year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The Department for Education and Skills allocates capital funding on a local authority basis, and on a financial year basis commencing 1 April. It then relies on the local authority to spend its allocation on improving school sports facilities, music facilities and other school assets in accordance with priorities set out in the local asset management plan. Accordingly, an analysis by type of expenditure is not held centrally.
	Capital allocations to  (a) Lancashire county council and  (b) England in each financial year since 1997 have increased significantly in the period 1997-98 to 2006-07, and are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   million 
			   Lancashire  England 
			 1997-98 13.3 800 
			 1998-99 19.5 1,100 
			 1999-2000 36.8 1,400 
			 2000-01 42.2 2,100 
			 2001-02 36.0 2,400 
			 2002-03 55.5 3,300 
			 2003-04 62.6 4,164 
			 2004-05 44.2 4,873 
			 2005-06 38.1 5,515 
			 2006-07 51.2 5,755 
		
	
	The peaks in Lancashire funding in the years 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2006-07 are due to successful Targeted Capital Fund bids.

School Confederations

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the creation of school confederations; what assessment he has made of the willingness of schools to enter into confederations; what incentives exist to encourage this initiative; and what benefits he expects to accrue to schools that choose to participate.

Jim Knight: We know that successful partnerships can be a very effective way of improving a school at all levels and we expect that schools will wish to work with others to benefit from the partnership dividend. Schools are free to enter into a wide range of partnership arrangements, including federations. It is for individual schools' governing bodies to decide whether it is in the best interests of their schools to enter into partnerships, therefore we do not hold detailed information centrally about the number of schools involved in every type of partnership with schools or with public, voluntary and private sector organisations.
	The Government are committed to promoting partnership working through Education Improvement Partnerships (EIPs) or other types of collaboration where it will deliver improved standards and increased opportunities. We are encouraging partnerships to consider local needs and determine how best to meet these through collaboration.
	All schools can benefit from reciprocal support, sharing best practice, pooling resources and offering wider ranges of opportunities to children and staff. However, there is no separate dedicated revenue grant for partnership and funding for school improvement is now part of the School Development Grant.

School Discipline

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support his Department provides to teachers in dealing with badly behaved pupils.

Jim Knight: We are implementing a wide-ranging national programme to help schools manage behaviour effectively. This includes:
	providing all schools with high-quality staff training materials;
	giving all secondary schools access to expert advice from behaviour management consultants;
	providing additional resources for schools facing the greatest challenges. These are being used to fund a range of additional support including learning mentors, in-school learning support units and multi-agency behaviour support teams; and
	legislating to give school staff a clear statutory power to discipline pupils, extend the use of parenting contracts and orders for bad behaviour and provide a more effective exclusions regime.

School Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average expenditure was per pupil in Yeovil constituency in the  (a) 1996-97 and  (b) 2005-06 financial year.

Jim Knight: The information requested is collected at local education authority level. The Yeovil constituency falls within the local authority area of Somerset local authority and the information supplied is reported at the LA level.
	
		
			per pupil 
			 1996-97 2,610 
			 2004-05 3,780 
			  Notes:  1. The combined LA and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in LA maintained establishments and pupils educated by the LA other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and all elements of central LA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA).  2.1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the section 52 form from the DfES. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) to schools and the associated restructuring of the section 52 outturn tables.  3. Pupil figures include all pre-primary pupils, including those under 5s funded by the LA and being educated in private settings, pupils educated in maintained mainstream schools and other LA maintained pupils. The pupil data for pupils attending maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools are taken from the DfES Annual Schools Census. Private voluntary and independent (PVI) under 5 pupil numbers are taken from the Early Years census but are only included from 1999-2000 onwards. Also included are other LA maintained pupils which includes all pupils attending schools not maintained by the authority for whom the authority is paying full tuition fees, or educated otherwise than in schools and pupil referral units under arrangements made by the authority drawn from the form 8b submitted to the DfES. Also included as other LA maintained pupils are all pupils attending pupil referral units who are not registered at a maintained mainstream school drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census. All pupil numbers are adjusted to be on a financial year basis.  4. Figures prior to 1999-2000 exclude any expenditure on service, strategy and regulation.  5. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  6. Cash terms figures as reported by Somerset LEA as at 5 July 2006.

School Pupils (Weapons)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many incidents there were of pupils found on school premises in possession of  (a) a knife,  (b) a firearm,  (c) an explosive and  (d) another weapon in each of the past three years.

Jim Knight: Sixty-six people (of all ages) were convicted of possessing a blade or offensive weapon on school premises in 2004, 43 people in 2003 and 36 in 2002. There are no records of whether or not these convictions were incurred by pupils. Possession of firearms or explosives are not school specific offences, so no records are kept of whether or not they were committed by pupils or in school.

School Pupils (Weapons)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what further security measures are being considered for schools;
	(2)  whether the Department has considered introducing metal detectors in schools.

Parmjit Dhanda: We propose to enable schools to search, without consent, a pupil they suspect is carrying a knife or other weapon. Guidance on the power to search will include advice on what equipment schools could use in searching, including metal detectors.

Skills for Life

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2006,  Official Report, Column 256W, on skills for life, which particular skill sets staff members regarded as requiring skills for life courses needed; how the requirements were identified; what grade each staff member who attended a course received at annual review  (a) before and  (b) after attending; and what course was taken.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department's skills for life strategy targets literacy and numeracy skills for adults who have few or no qualifications and these are the skills sets the Department has identified for its skills for life provision. The skills for life course is run by a local provider, tailored to the requirements of the Department.
	Learning requirements are identified by line managers in discussion with staff as part of regular development planning discussions. These discussions are a requirement of the Department's performance management arrangements and identify the development staff need to support delivery of their work objectives.
	The information requested on recent annual review grades can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. But annual reviews take into account many aspects of performance and a skills for life course alone would not affect the overall grade.

Staff Development

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost was of  (a) staff away days and  (b) staff team building exercises in his Department in each of the last three years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department is committed to helping staff to reach their full potential and believe that staff away days and team building exercises are beneficial in helping them achieve that.

Swimming

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he plans to remove swimming from the national curriculum in primary schools.

Jim Knight: The national curriculum for physical education requires that all pupils should be taught to swim at least 25 metres by the end of key stage two. There are no plans to remove swimming from the national curriculum in primary schools.

Teachers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the nature of the errors and inconsistencies in the provisional Teacher Assessment data published in his Department's Statistical First Release 32/2005;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the accuracy of provisional Teacher Assessment data published in his Department's Statistical First Release 32/2005;
	(3)  how many local authorities were affected by errors and inconsistencies in the provisional Teacher Assessment data published in his Department's Statistical First Release 32/2005.

Jim Knight: The Teacher Assessment results published on a provisional basis in SFR 32/2005 were based on data provided by schools to the National Assessment Agency's data collection contractor. When these data were made available to local authorities the Department became aware of errors. These errors may have been introduced at any point in the collection and validation process including in the original data supplied by schools. These errors are known to affect up to a third of schools spread across almost all local authorities. However in the majority of cases the error is known to be very small, and serious errors occur in less than 1 per cent. of all cases.
	Prior to provision to the DfES both the National Assessment Agency and its contractor perform quality checks and data cleansing exercises on the data. However, the nature of the errors was such that they would not be easily identifiable from inspection of the data. Only when the data were made available to local authorities were they able to identify these issues. As soon as the errors were notified to the Department, they were investigated and a warning note was added to the Department's statistical website. The National Assessment Agency has already put in place system changes for data entry in 2006 such that these errors can not happen again.

Teachers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers have been dismissed since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Teachers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on what the estimated retention levels are of  (a) newly-qualified and  (b) existing teachers; and what the average number of years served by existing teachers is.

Jim Knight: Provisional estimates show that of the 20,580 newly qualified teachers in full-time regular service in the maintained sector in England in March 2003,1,800 were no longer in full-time regular service in March 2004. This is a retention rate of 91 per cent. The equivalent retention rate for all full-time regular teachers in the maintained sector in England for the same period is 89 per cent.
	The average number of years served by full-time regular teachers in the maintained sector in England, as at March 2004, was 14.
	Newly-qualified teachers are those that gained qualified teacher status in the calendar year 2002. The information is from the Database of Teacher Records and the latest information available from this source is for March 2004.

Teachers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers have  (a) retired and  (b) been recruited in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Information on movements out of and into teaching for 1997-98 to 2003-04 is given in the following table. This includes those who have retired and those who have been recruited.
	
		
			  Teacher flows. Maintained schools sector: 1997-98 to 2003-04( 1) : Qualified teacher entrants and wastage by type and destination( 2) England 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03( 1)  2003-04( 1) 
			  Full-time
			  Entrants to full-time teaching in the maintained schools sector
			 Newly qualified entrants(3) 18,010 16,820 17,630 16,780 18,330 20,580 21,800 
			 New to maintained sector(4) 5,770 5,320 5,900 7,060 7,500 5,940 5,400 
			 Returner to maintained sector(5) 5,300 5,410 5,870 7,070 8,710 7,610 6,390 
			 Total entrants 29,080 27,550 29,400 30,910 34,540 34,130 33,600 
			 Joiners from part-time service(6) 4,910 4,630 4,790 5,440 4,950 4,910 4,040 
			 
			  Movement from full-time teaching in the maintained schools sector
			 Out of service(7) 15,660 18,560 19,150 21,080 21,050 21,760 20,920 
			 Retired 13,810 5,700 6,080 6,650 6,540 6,640 7,270 
			 Total wastage 29,470 24,260 25,230 27,730 27,590 28,400 28,190 
			 Leavers to part-time service(8) 6,910 6,780 7,440 8,190 9,710 9,750 10,470 
			 
			  Part-time
			  Entrants to part-time teaching in the maintained schools sector
			 Newly qualified entrants(3) 890 840 810 600 570 750 960 
			 New to maintained sector(4) 2,750 2,910 3,170 3,720 3,680 3,680 4,050 
			 Returner to maintained sector(5) 5,190 5,110 4,850 5,520 5,550 4,720 4,430 
			 Total entrants 8,820 8,860 8,830 9,840 9,800 9,140 9,430 
			 Joiners from full-time service(8) 6,910 6,780 7,440 8,190 9,710 9,750 10,470 
			 
			  Movement from part-time teaching in the maintained schools sector
			 Out of service(7) 6,820 7,590 7,650 7,620 7,730 9,120 8,750 
			 Retired 2,750 2,360 2,510 2,610 2,240 2,440 2,620 
			 Total wastage 9,580 9,950 10,160 10,230 9,970 11,550 11,370 
			 Leavers to full-time service(6) 4,910 4,630 4,790 5,440 4,950 4,910 4,040 
			 (1) Provisional estimates.  (2) 10-20 per cent. of part-time teachers may not be included in the data.  (3) Teacher qualified in the previous calendar year.  (4) Teacher has no known service in the English maintained schools sector, and qualified before the previous calendar year.  (5) Teacher was not in service last year, but has some previous service in the English maintained schools sector.  (6) Full-time joiners from part-time service are equivalent to leavers from part-time to full-time service. They are not included in total entrants or total wastage.  (7) Teacher is no longer in service in the English maintained schools sector and is not receiving a pension. May be teaching in FE/HE sectors or Wales.  (8) Part-time joiners from full-time service are equivalent to leavers from full-time to part-time service. They are not included in total entrants or total wastage.   Source:  Database of Teacher Records.

Tuition Fees

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the independent commission on tuition fees is expected to be appointed; when the review is planned to take place; when the commission is expected to report back to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have nothing to add at this stage to the commitments we gave during the passage of the Higher Education Act 2004. Our intention is that the commission will report to Parliament by the end of 2009. The commission's terms of reference are already in the public domain.
	It is important that there is public confidence in the commission's work, and the Government will keep Parliament informed as practical arrangements are decided.

Young Offenders (Education)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people of school age are in custody; and what education they receive.

Parmjit Dhanda: Youth Justice Board figures show that as at 7 July 2006 there were 1,356 children aged 16 and under held within custody. The specification set by the Youth Justice Board requires that all young people in custody are provided with a 25-hour a week programme, and this rises to 30 hours in secure children's homes and secure training centres, with a broad and balanced curriculum, reflecting the requirements of the national curriculum for those of school age. All young people are assessed upon entry to custody to ascertain their literacy and numeracy levels and whether they have special needs. There is specific provision for those with special needs determined by the requirements of their individual learning plan.

Youth Sport Trust

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what grants his Department has made to the Youth Sport Trust in each of the past five years.

Jim Knight: Over the past five years, the Department for Education and Skills has funded the Youth Sport Trust for work in connection with a range of programmes, as follows:
	
		
			   2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06 
			 Sports Colleges 340,422 532,450 851,858 1,453,990 1,982,725 
			 School Sport Partnerships 563,700 906,115 788,232 2,670,000 3,993,200 
			 Academies 30,700 27,500 54,000 73,626 168,050 
			 Millennium Volunteers 195,000 128,000
			 Commonwealth Games Education Programme 200,000 140,000
			 Family Learning  32,400
			 Inclusion  26,000
			 Gifted and Talented 60,000 100,000 670,000 1,825,000 2,030,000 
			 International work  89,624  117,364 50,000 
			 Sporting Playgrounds 50,000 50,000  100,000 50,000 
			 Living for Sport/Changing Lives40,000 110,000 
			 National Council School Sport30,000 50,000 
			 Pedometers40,000 32,500 
			 Total 1,439,822 2,032,089 2,364,090 6,349,980 8,466,475 
		
	
	In addition, the Youth Sport Trust is part of the consortium (the Association for Physical Education, Sports Coach UK and the Youth Sport Trust) which successfully tendered, via an open competition, to manage the delivery of the national PE and School Sport Professional Development programme. The total value of this contract is 24 million.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Local Authority Electoral Reviews

John Pugh: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission when the Electoral Commission will publish its conclusions following last year's consultations on the Commission's policies and procedures for the conduct of local authority electoral reviews in England.

Humfrey Malins: The Electoral Commission informs me that it published its conclusions on 3 July 2006. The aim of electoral reviews is to ensure that, within each local authority area, the number of electors represented by each councillor elected to the council is as nearly as possible the same, taking into account local circumstances. In addition to proposing a number of procedural changes to the review process, the Commission has also proposed certain changes to legislation. Details are set out in its findings document, copies of which have been sent to all Members and placed in the Library of the House.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Advertising Campaigns

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what advertising campaigns her Department has run since July 2004; and what the  (a) date and  (b) cost was of each.

David Lammy: Since July 2004, expenditure on advertising has been as follows:
	
		
			   
			   BBC Charter  Licensing 
			 2004-05 20,987  
			 2005-06  139,578

Athletics

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Exchequer funding has been given to athletics in the UK in the past three years.

Richard Caborn: For the financial period 2003-04 to 2005-06, Sport England and UK Sport made Exchequer payments to athletics of 7,180,000 and 6,988,447 respectively.
	Sport in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a devolved matter. Funding to athletics in the home countries may also have been provided by the relevant Home Country Sports Council.

Athletics

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Lottery money has been given to athletics in the last three years.

Richard Caborn: For the financial period 2003-04 to 2005-06, Sport England and UK Sport made lottery payments to athletics of 35,050,000 and 3,081,656 respectively.
	Sport in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a devolved matter. Funding to athletics in the home countries may also have been provided by the relevant Home Country Sports Council.

Commonwealth Institute

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what correspondence she has written to  (a) Ministers,  (b) governors of the Institute and  (c) other non-departmental public bodies on the subject of the Commonwealth Institute building in the past 12 months.

David Lammy: It is a long standing convention that information relating to ministerial communications is not disclosed. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written on one occasion to the chairman of the Commonwealth Institute. Additionally I have written on five occasions to the chairman of the Commonwealth Institute and once to the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.

Correspondence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2006,  Official Report, column 404W, on correspondence, what estimate she has made of the cost of answering the question; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: It is not possible to separately identify the average cost of officials' time in replying to letters from hon. Members and members of the public. Such correspondence is often of a varied and complex nature. Therefore any exercise to determine the average cost in officials' time in responding to letters would incur disproportionate cost.
	It is not possible to identify seperately stationery and postage costs for the Department when replying to correspondence from hon. Members and members of the public.

Deposited Papers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list deposited papers placed in the Library by her Department since 2000; and when they were published.

David Lammy: I am depositing in the Library a list of documents deposited by the Department from January 2000 to 26 April 2006. Unfortunately our records do not give the date of publication for each document.

European Sports Review

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will place in the Library a copy of the Independent European Sports Review, published in May; and where copies of the Review may be obtained.

Richard Caborn: I am placing a copy of the Independent European Sport Review in the House Libraries. The Review can be seen online at www.independentfootball review.com.

Football

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what schemes have been funded by the Football Foundation in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) West Lancashire constituency since it was established.

Richard Caborn: In Lancashire 608 projects received Football Foundation grants from all its funding streams. These include the Capital Projects Scheme, the Goalpost Safety Scheme, the Community and Education Scheme, the Small Grants Scheme and the Junior Kit Scheme.
	In West Lancashire the Football Foundation has provided one grant from the Goalpost Safety Scheme, two grants from the Small Grants Scheme and 19 grants from the Junior Kit Scheme. The Foundation is currently considering the first application from the area for a major capital project.

Football

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the possible loss of income stream generated by the sale of fixture lists following the European Court of Justice ruling based on the 1996 European Database Directive; and if she will meet representatives of the Football League to discuss intellectual property rights and fixture lists.

Richard Caborn: I have met with representatives of the Football League on a number of occasions to discuss this issue, most recently last month.
	The professional Football Leagues reports that the European Court of Justice ruling will cost in excess of 6 million from lost income. The Government are working with the leagues to help them identify sources of replacement funding.

Football

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with  (a) the football authorities and  (b) sports governing bodies on the effect of the September 2004 European Court of Justice judgment on database rights on their organisations.

Richard Caborn: I have met with representatives of the Football League on a number of occasions, most recently last month. I have also discussed this matter in detail with the British Horseracing Board. The Government are working with the football authorities to help them identify sources of replacement funding.

Government Art Collection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what items of art are on loan from the Government Art Collection to HM Treasury; who the artist is in each case; and what the estimated value is of each item.

David Lammy: A list of works of art on loan from the Government Art Collection to HM Treasury (1 Horse Guards Road and 11 Downing Street) is provided in a separate document. I am arranging for copies of this document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	It is not possible to give an accurate valuation of each item. The current monetary value of a work of art can be accurately assessed only at the time of purchase or sale or by professional valuation. In the former case, the collection is not actively traded; in the latter, it would not be justifiable expenditure of public funds to have the works from the collection valued professionally.

Licensing

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many establishments have licences for 24-hour drinking;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the  (a) local and  (b) social effects of the introduction of 24-hour drinking.

Shaun Woodward: Through the Department's scrutiny council initiative and feedback from other local authorities, local communities are engaged in the licensing process to an unprecedented level. We are confident that pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and other establishments covered by the new regime are now better able to respond to the demands of their customers. We estimate that around 0.5 per cent. of licensed premises (or about 1,000) have obtained a 24-hour licence to sell alcohol, the majority of which are supermarkets, hotels, off-licenses and similar premises. It is too early to determine the full impact of the Licensing Act 2003; but it is unlikely that the effect of 24-hour licences is significant given the numbers and types of premises involved. The licensing reforms are part of the Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy, the focus of which is to improve identification and treatment, raise awareness of the sensible drinking message and to work with industry, ending irresponsible promotions and irresponsible alcohol retailing.

Licensing Legislation

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to include key stakeholders and residents in her Department's licensing legislation consultation and review process.

Shaun Woodward: Stakeholders and residents are being consulted on every aspect of the licensing reforms.
	An independent Licensing Fees Review Panel was established by the Government in May last year to consider whether fees had been set at the right level for community groups, businesses and local authorities. The panelwhich is chaired by Sir Les Eltonpublished its interim findings on 5 December 2005. The panel is continuing to work closely with all stakeholders in order to gather the evidence that will inform their final report, which is due to be published in the autumn.
	Under the recent Scrutiny Council Initiative, officials from my Department worked with council officers and through them with local police and other responsible authorities, residents' groups, businesses and other stakeholders, to gather information about how the new regime is working on the ground.
	In addition, we are conducting a review of the guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003. A comprehensive formal review of the guidance including a full public consultation will be completed by autumn 2006 and a revised version of the guidance will be laid before Parliament by the end of 2006.

Listed Buildings

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions since 1985 Ministers have taken decisions to de-list buildings previously listed by English Heritage.

David Lammy: Decisions on whether buildings are listed or de-listed are taken by the Secretary of State. English Heritage, as the Secretary of State's statutory adviser on the historic environment, provides advice to inform these decisions.
	According to records held by English Heritage, 781 buildings were de-listed between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 2005. Neither we, nor English Heritage, hold a central record of de-listings earlier than this period.

Local Authority Lotteries

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which local authorities are operating lotteries; and what revenue has been produced by each one since they came into existence.

Richard Caborn: There are currently no local authority lotteries registered with the Gambling Commission.

Rail Franchises

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations her Department has received from organisations in the south-west region on the impact on tourism of the proposed changes to the Cross Country rail franchise.

Shaun Woodward: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not received any such representations. However, the Department for Transport (DfT) is conducting a consultation on the new franchise, which will commence in November 2007. One response has been received so far from the south-west region which relates to tourism, from Torbay borough council. DfT welcomes further responses before the deadline of 7 August 2006.

Temporary Event Notices

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times a chief constable has given an objection notice in response to the issue of a temporary event notice under the Licensing Act 2003 in  (a) England and  (b) each local authority area (i) since its inception and (ii) since July 2005.

Shaun Woodward: This information is not held centrally.

Temporary Event Notices

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many temporary event notices have been issued in  (a) England and  (b) each local authority area under the Licensing Act 2003 (i) since its inception and (ii) since July 2005.

Shaun Woodward: This information is not held centrally.

Temporary Event Notices

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many complaints from the public there have been concerning events held under temporary event notices since they came into force;
	(2)  how many temporary event notices have been granted since they came into force.

Shaun Woodward: This information is not held centrally.

World Cup

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which matches  (a) she and  (b) other Ministers in her Department attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in their ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contributions from third party organisations.

Richard Caborn: Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I attended a number of games during the 2006 World Cup in Germany having received personal invitations from FIFA.
	My right hon. Friend attended, in her official capacity as Secretary of State, the England  v. Sweden Group B match. In my official capacity as Minister for Sport, I attended the Germany  v. Costa Rica Group A match, the England  v. Paraguay Group B match, the England  v. Trinidad and Tobago Group B match, the England  v. Ecuador second round match and the England  v. Portugal quarter final match.
	All travel and accommodation was arranged in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers.
	The total cost of our visits to Germany including officials was 13,752.

Youth School Games

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consideration she has given to including Blaenau Gwent in forward planning for the schools Olympics.

Richard Caborn: The UK School Games (UKSG) will form an annual part of the preparations leading up to the Olympic Games in 2012, with the first event being staged in September 2006 in Glasgow.
	On 21 June 2006, the Millennium Commission invited cities across the UK to bid to host the UKSG from 2007 to 2011. The closing date for applications for cities bidding to host the 2007 UKSG is 14 August 2006. All applications will be assessed against demanding criteria to achieve the highest quality sporting occasion. It is our hope that the successful cities will represent a good regional/country spread across the UK. It is envisaged that the successful location for the 2007 Games will be announced at the UKSG in Glasgow.

Youth School Games

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many schools in  (a) London,  (b) Lambeth and  (c) Vauxhall constituency are involved in the UK Games to be held in September.

Richard Caborn: This information is not available in the requested format. The UK School Games 2006 is a high level competition for talented school age young people. They will be selected by the relevant national governing bodies through their competition framework which is based around a nation or regional structure. The selection process for some of the sports involved in the 2006 games has not yet been completed.

Youth School Games

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what outside agencies have been contracted to run the youth school games to be staged in 2006;
	(2)  how much has been allocated to date for the youth school games to  (a) the Youth Sport Trust and  (b) other outside agencies;
	(3)  whether the contract awarded to the Youth Sport Trust for the UK school games to be staged in Glasgow for 2006 has been subject to open tendering under the provisions of the EU procurement directive for public service contracts;
	(4)  how much fast track is being paid to run the UK games in September;
	(5)  how the expenditure on the UK games in September will be monitored;
	(6)  whether the British Olympic Association was considered as the co-ordinating body for the UK games.

Richard Caborn: The organisation of the UK school games this September is a matter for the Millennium Commission. In my other capacity as chair of the commission, I will write to my hon. Friend and arrange for copies of my reply to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Youth School Games

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consideration was given to involving the  (a) British Paralympic Association,  (b) British Olympic Association and  (c) national governing bodies for (i) athletics, (ii) table tennis, (iii) swimming, (iv) gymnastics and (v) fencing in the running of the 2006 Youth School Games.

Richard Caborn: The Youth Sport Trust has held discussions with the British Olympic Foundation, the charitable arm of the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association to integrate and embed the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games' ideals and values into the UK School Games (UKSG).
	The National Governing Bodies (Swimming, Fencing, Athletics, Table Tennis and Gymnastics) have all been involved in the arrangements for the games from the outset. They are responsible for the competition format, team selection and technical requirements of their sport in this event, as well as assuming responsibility for the developmental work around the National Competition Framework and engaging the National School Sport Associations in that process.

Youth Sport Trust

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what experience the Youth Sport Trust has in running competitive  (a) multi-sports events and  (b) disability sports events.

Richard Caborn: The Youth Sport Trust (YST) is managing the roll out of a new competitive sport structure for schools which includes the appointment of competition managers who will cover all School Sport Partnerships by 2010. The competitive sport structure in schools includes multi-sport events and disability sport.

Youth Sport Trust

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she will list the contracts awarded to the Youth Sport Trust by the Department over the last three years; what the value was of each contract; and whether there was an open tendering process in each case;
	(2)  whether the Department has sought legal advice as to whether its contractual arrangements with the Youth Sport Trust fall under the EU Procurement Directive for Public Service Contracts.

Richard Caborn: There have been no contracts awarded to the Youth Sport Trust by the Department over the past three years. Therefore it has not been necessary for the Department to seek legal advice on any contractual arrangements.
	Sport England has awarded over the past three financial years (2004-07) the following funding to the Youth Sport Trust to deliver programmes within the National School Sport Strategy.
	Step into Sport5.7 million
	Multi-skill Clubs880,000

WALES

Carbon Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent estimate he has made of the carbon emissions of his Department; what commitment he has made to reducing such emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office in conjunction with the Department of Constitutional Affairs is committed to reducing carbon emissions, and will be working towards the Government's targets for sustainable development announced on 12 June 2006 by the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. We are working with the Carbon Trust, which is auditing our energy use and will suggest where we can improve. The car leased by the Wales Office for ministerial travel is dual fuel and has very low emissions. We have committed from 1 April 2006 to the Carbon Offset scheme for any air travel.

FIFA World Cup

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which matches  (a) he and  (b) other Ministers in his Department attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in their ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contributions from third party organisations.

Peter Hain: None.

Police Houses

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the merits of the reintroduction of police houses on housing estates in Wales.

Peter Hain: None.

Questionnaires

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many  (a) questionnaires,  (b) statistical inquiries and  (c) investigations have been carried out wholly or partly at public expense on behalf of or by his Department in each year since 1997; and what the (i) nature, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost was of each.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office was established in July 1999 and since that time have carried out none.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

10 Victoria Street

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his answer of 5 December 2005,  Official Report, column 1002W, on 10 Victoria street, what progress has been made in re-letting the property.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Of the nine floors in the building, all but two have been sublet.

Agency Staff

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what average hourly rate was paid by his Department to each employment agency for staff employed through agencies in 2005-06.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The arrangements for employing temporary agency staff in the Department are delegated to local line management units. Managers must follow central guidance on the use of temporary agency staff, and where appropriate, use centrally agreed frameworks.
	We do not hold information centrally on the average cost of temporary agency staff. This information could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

Bankruptcy

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the numbers of farmers who went bankrupt in  (a) Yeovil constituency,  (b) Somerset and  (c) the South West region in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The closest available estimate for bankruptcies among self-employed farmers is that for bankruptcies falling under the category agriculture according to the Insolvency Trade Classification.
	Regional insolvency statistics are only available on the basis of the locations of Official Receivers offices, each of which cover a group of county courts where the cases are heard and the courts having jurisdiction over these. The following table provides the statistics considered to be closest to those requested, but they should not be treated as a precise measure of these. In particular, the Exeter and Bristol offices will cover many but not necessarily all of the cases in the county of Somerset; they will also include cases from neighbouring counties:
	
		
			  Bankruptcies in England and Wales for Agriculture, 2001-05 
			   Yeovil County Court  Exeter OR's Office( 1)  Bristol OR's Office  South West Region (OR-based) 
			 2001 1 2 11 25 
			 2002 4 9 3 26 
			 2003 4 4 3 38 
			 2004 0 3 10 37 
			 2005 5 10 5 50 
			 (1) Exeter OR's Office covers the following county courts: Barnstaple, Exeter, Newton Abbot, Shaftsbury, Torquay and Yeovil

Bankruptcy

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many individuals entered into bankruptcy in each quarter since 2001, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Ian McCartney: Bankruptcy statistics are not available by parliamentary constituency; they are broken down by Official Receivers (ORs) offices and broad regional groupings of these. Quarterly bankruptcies for England and Wales for each financial year from 2001-02 to 2005-06 are provided on the table placed in the Libraries of the House.

Bankruptcy

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what proportion of people aged between 16 and 24 years declared themselves to be bankrupt in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Official bankruptcy statistics are not routinely analysed by age group and to provide the information requested would incur disproportionate cost.
	However, the Insolvency Service published the report Characteristics of a bankrupt in March 2006 which included an analysis of bankruptcies by broad age groups for the financial years 2001-02 to 2004-05 and is available from http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/insolvency professionandlegislation/policychange/cob.pdf It should be noted that the nearest age band in this report to that requested is for those aged 18-29; the following table provides a summary based on this information.
	
		
			  Bankruptcies in England and Wales, 2001-02 to 2004-05, for those aged 18-29 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Total bankruptcies in year 23,426 25,177 29,633 37,562 
			 Total bankruptcies with age recorded 21,530 23,279 27,816 34,852 
			 Bankrupts aged 18-29 1,681 2,496 4,116 6,520 
			 Bankrupts aged 18-29 as percentage of all bankrupts with age recorded 7.8 10.7 14.8 18.7 
			 Population of England and Wales aged 18-29 from 2001 census 7,806,310
			 18-29 as percentage of total population aged 18 and over 19.4
			 Bankrupts aged 18-29 as percentage of population aged 18-29 0.02

Biomass Energy Generation

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grant funding is available for  (a) micro domestic combined heat and power units which are run on biomass,  (b) on-farm power generation which uses biomass and  (c) town-size power plants using locally-produced biomass.

Malcolm Wicks: Grants for a number of microgeneration technologies producing heat and electricity are available to householders under the new Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP). Stream One of the LCBP provides grant support for householders and applications are now being taken. The LCBP is managed on behalf of the Department by the Energy Savings Trust and full details are available on the LCBP website at www.lowcarbon buildings.org.uk.
	Support for small biomass CHP schemes may also be available from The Big Lottery Fund. The fund has 2.6 million available to support the installation of heating systems and small-scale combined heat and power systems fuelled by solid biomass. End users of the systems must be either public sector or commercial organisations. Domestic installations are not eligible for support. The closing date for applications is 31 July 2006 and further details can be found on the fund's website at:
	http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_renewable_energy .htm?regioncode=-ukcountry=UKWidestatus=theProg.
	There are presently no grants specifically for on-farm biomass power generationhowever on-farm power generation may be an eligible renewable source under the Renewables Obligation.
	There is currently no capital funding available for town-size power plants. Funding for such projects had been available under the Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme, which is supporting the construction of projects with an installed capacity of at least 30 MW in Lockerbie and in Teesside. Town-scale biomass projects may also be eligible for the Renewables Obligation and grants under DEFRA's Energy Crop Scheme.

Business

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department has taken to increase enterprise in Hartlepool constituency since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has, over the last nine years, initiated and been closely involved with a wide range of measures aimed at creating the best possible environment for business success in the UK. Each year the Department directly invests over 400 million nationally in grants, loans and subsidised consultancy to stimulate enterprise and assist business growth. The Departmentdirectly, through public sector agencies and in association with the business communitydelivers a comprehensive suite of business support measures including direct grants for investment and R and D, subsidised loans and encouragement of collaboration, knowledge transfer and the adoption of best practice.
	The Enterprise Act, which received Royal Assent in 2002, covers a range of measures designed to enhance enterprise. It strengthens the UK's competition framework, transforms our approach to bankruptcy and corporate rescue, and empowers consumers. The Act builds on the progress made by the Competition Act 1998, recent insolvency reforms and measures already implemented in the 1999 White Paper Modern Markets: Confident Consumers.
	As well as actively promoting measures to address competition, the burden of regulation and company law, the Department has been closely involved with a significant number of initiatives to promote an enterprise culture and to help with business funding. These include the establishment of the Task Force on Women's Enterprise, the commitment of over 100 million for Enterprise Capital Funds, the Schools Enterprise Education Network and the Enterprise Promotion Fund.
	Specific responsibility for economic development and increasing enterprise in the North East of England falls to regional development agency One NorthEast. The agency administers a number of business support schemes on behalf of the DTI, and has worked with regional partners to create a single regional Business Link network that will deliver top quality business support services and will be easy to access and easy to use. The agency is also developing and delivering a significant programme aimed at bringing about a lasting cultural change in attitudes towards entrepreneurial activity across the North East of England, including raising aspirations of the region's young people, and under-represented groups. One NorthEast is also a key supporter of the Launch Pad initiative being developed through the North East Enterprise Bond. The Bond is an innovative, private sector led, initiative which will provide proactive support towards stimulating a greater enterprise culture in communities across the North East of England.
	Although there are no specific DTI initiatives aimed at promoting enterprise in Hartlepool, the national and regional initiatives mentionedalong with other public funding being used to establish of business incubator units and provide business start-up advice and tailored local business support measureswill contribute to stimulate enterprise within the town.

Business

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect he expects the provisions of the Company Law Reform Bill to have on directors' duties in respect of the human rights of employees and the local community in relation to their operations in Zimbabwe.

Margaret Hodge: Clause 158 of the Company Law Reform Bill requires directors to have regard to the interests of the company's employees and the impact of the company's operations on the community and the environment in promoting the success of the company for the benefit of its members collectively. The duty applies regardless of where the directors are and regardless of the location of the employees or the location of the local community affected by their decisions.
	Clause 399 requires all companies, other than those subject to the small companies regime, to produce a business review as part of the directors' report. Information on the company's employees and the local community in which the company operates must be included in the review where relevant to provide a balanced and comprehensive analysis of the company's business consistent with the size and complexity of the business.

Business

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses in Bexley borough  (a) started up and  (b) ceased trading in each of the last nine years; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Value added tax (VAT) registrations and de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of business start-ups and closures. DTI data on the number of VAT registrations and de-registrations in Bexley borough in each year from 1997 to 2004 are shown in the following table. Data for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006. For comparison, the start of year stock of VAT-registered businesses is also given.
	
		
			  VAT de-registrations and registrations 1997 to 2004 
			  Bexley borough  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Registrations 650 580 560 590 620 540 570 535 
			 De-registrations 490 490 435 505 505 475 535 560 
			 Start of year stock 4,415 4,575 4,665 4,795 4,875 4,995 5,060 5,100 
			  Note:  Due to rounding, the stock at the beginning of the year, plus registrations during the year, minus de-registrations during the year, may not exactly match the stock at the start of the next year.  Source: Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994 to 2004, Small Business Service, available from the Library of the House and also at http://www.sbs.gov.uk/vats. 
		
	
	VAT registration and de-registration data do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if their turnover falls below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 4.3 million businesses (42 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2004.
	In Bexley borough VAT registrations exceeded de-registrations every year except 2004. The proportional increase in the stock of VAT registered businesses from 1997 to 2004 was bigger for Bexley (16 per cent.) than for England as a whole (13 per cent.).
	Regional disparities in start-up and closure rates can have their root in the different economic history and different opportunities available in each region. The Government's aim is for every region to achieve success and good economic growth, which is why increasing resources have been put at the disposal of each Regional Development Agency.

Business

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms have ceased trading in  (a) Yeovil constituency,  (b) Somerset and  (c) the South West in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Value added tax (VAT) registrations and de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of business start-ups and closures. DTI data on the number of VAT registrations and de-registrations in  (a) Yeovil constituency,  (b) Somerset county and  (c) the South West in each year since 1997 are shown in the following table. For comparison, the start of year stock of VAT-registered businesses is also given.
	VAT registration and de-registration data do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if their turnover falls below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 4.3 million businesses (42 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2004.
	
		
			  VAT registrations, de-registrations and start of year stock, 1997 to 2004 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			  Yeovil constituency 
			 Registrations 250 250 210 220 245 240 240 270 
			 De-registrations 205 185 215 225 215 205 245 230 
			 Start of year stock 2,840 2,885 2,950 2,950 2,945 2,975 3,015 3,005 
			  
			  Somerset county 
			 Registrations 1,505 1,540 1,505 1,555 1,425 1,555 1,610 1,605 
			 De-registrations 1,275 1,255 1,305 1,325 1,320 1,300 1,545 1,575 
			 Start of year stock 17,595 17,830 18,110 18,310 18,540 18,645 18,900 18,965 
			  
			  South West GOR 
			 Registrations 15,840 15,600 15,285 15,340 14,350 15,445 16,380 15,310 
			 De-registrations 12,660 12,545 12,960 13,535 12,745 13,205 14,455 14,970 
			 Start of year stock 154,285 157,465 160,520 162,845 164,650 166,255 168,500 170,430 
			  Note: Due to rounding, the stock at the beginning of the year, plus registrations during the year, minus de-registrations during the year, may not exactly match the stock at the start of the next year.  Source: Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994-2004, Small Business Service, available from the Library of the House and also at http://www.sbs.gov.uk/vats.

Business

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of independent retail shops which  (a) opened and  (b) closed in Yeovil constituency in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Value added tax (VAT) registrations and de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of business start-ups and closures. DTI data on the number of VAT retail business registrations and de-registrations in Yeovil from 1997 to 2004 are shown in the following table. For comparison, data on the stock has been provided.
	
		
			  VAT registrations, de-registrations and stock in retail( 1)  in Yeovil, 1997 to 2004 
			   Registrations  De-registration  Stock at end-year 
			 1997 30 40 340 
			 1998 30 20 345 
			 1999 15 35 325 
			 2000 25 30 320 
			 2001 35 25 335 
			 2002 30 30 335 
			 2003 35 30 340 
			 2004 25 30 335 
			 (1 )Standard Industrial Classification 52, retail trade (except of motor vehicles), repair of personal and household goods.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 for data protection reasons.  Source: Small Business Service figures based on data from the ONS Inter Departmental Business Register. 
		
	
	VAT registration and de-registration data do not capture all business activity.
	Businesses are unlikely to be registered if their turnover falls below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register may not have closed. In the retail sector 63 per cent. of enterprises in the UK (200,000 out of 320,000) were registered for VAT at the start of 2004.

Cigarettes

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department had any discussions on ignition propensity in cigarettes at the European General Product Safety Directive Committee on 13 and 14 June.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor) on 3 July 2006,  Official Report, column 863W.

Company Law Reform Bill

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the percentage of British companies which will be required to make reports on  (a) environmental matters,  (b) employee relations,  (c) social and community issues and  (d) relations with suppliers under the Business Review provisions of the Company Law Reform Bill.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 28 June 2006
	The Company Law Reform Bill provides that all companies, apart from small companies, will continue to be required to produce a Business Review. Quoted companies (approximately 1,300 companies) will need to include certain defined information to the extent necessary for an understanding of the development, performance or position of the company's business. They will need to report on the main trends and factors likely to affect the future development, performance and position of the company's business. They will need to report on  (a) environmental matters (including the impact of the company's business on the environment),  (b) the company's employees, and  (c) social and community issues. Directors will judge whether to report on their relationships with suppliers where this is necessary to provide a balanced and comprehensive analysis consistent with the size and complexity of the company's business.

Company Law Reform Bill

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is his intention that lobbying of members of a company regarding the policies of the company by non-members should be a proper purpose for requesting a copy of the company's register of members under Clause 115 of the Company Law Reform Bill.

Margaret Hodge: It is likely that a court would consider proper any communication which is made for a lawful purpose and is relevant to either the holding of interests recorded in the register or the exercise of rights attached to them. Those who lobby others, whether or not they are members of a company, need to avoid straying into intimidation, harassment or blackmail, and to bear in mind relevant legislation such as the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and sections 145-148 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

Compensation

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average damages recovered by the 10 law firms with the greatest volume of claims were in the vibration white finger and chronic bronchitis and emphysema schemes.

Malcolm Wicks: The average damages recovered by the 10 solicitors with the most claims submitted for each scheme are set out in the following tables:
	
		
			  Vibration white finger scheme 
			  Solicitor  Claims submitted  Average damages paid () 
			 Thompsons 21,050 12,322 
			 Browell Smith and Co. 16,467 9,236 
			 Beresfords 11,632 8,469 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 11,537 9,354 
			 Raleys 11,280 9,232 
			 Hugh James 10,638 9,035 
			 Graysons 8,699 10,400 
			 Moss 7,295 8,641 
			 Watson Burton 5,936 11,197 
			 AMS Law 5,383 8,547 
		
	
	
		
			  Respiratory disease scheme 
			  Solicitor  Claims submitted  Average damages paid () 
			 Beresfords 80,915 2,302 
			 Thompsons 57,794 8,763 
			 Hugh James 56,483 8,349 
			 Raleys 47,748 6,833 
			 Browell Smith and Co. 32,649 6,879 
			 Avalon 30,638 1,822 
			 Mark Gilbert Morse 25,682 6,281 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 16,739 3,261 
			 Barber and Co. 14,106 2,560 
			 Watson Burton 14,074 4,151

Credit Unions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department will provide information and membership forms for credit unions to its employees.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government welcome the contribution made by the various savings institutions in providing for greater choice and diversity in the financial services sector.
	The Government's guiding principles are to ensure impartiality and to help create a level playing field for all providers of financial services in order that their specific attributes can be properly harnessed.
	It would therefore be inconsistent for a Government Department to favour credit unions above other financial institutions.
	Employees are of course free to join in credit unions if they meet their relevant membership criteria and Departments may provide appropriate levels of support if employees wish to set up a credit union.

Electricity Transmission System

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which body is responsible for carrying out strategic environmental assessment of plans to upgrade the electricity transmission system in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: The EU directive on strategic environmental assessment applies to authorities who are required to produce plans or programmes which set the framework for future development consent of projects. No such plans or programmes for overhead lines have been produced.

Energy Policy

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2006,  Official Report, column 223W, on energy policy, if he will add to the information available the results of the polling and focus group research conducted in preparation for the publication of the Energy White Paper in March 2003.

Malcolm Wicks: The consultation on the Energy White Paper included a range of public opinion sampling exercises that included: focus groups, deliberative workshops, web-based stakeholder consultation, and an energy policy questionnaire used at a Tomorrow's World Roadshow. Reports from all these activities were freely available on DTI's website until May this year when the website was re-designed and some of the older material removed.
	I am placing copies of these reports in the Libraries of the House.

Energy Policy

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has conducted into the competitiveness of  (a) the UK and  (b) other industrial economies in terms of (i) energy costs and (ii) government subsidies.

Malcolm Wicks: April 2006 estimates suggest that:
	Industrial electricity prices in the UK including taxes were above the EU15 median for all consumers except the smallest, where they were around the median.
	Industrial gas prices including taxes in the UK were below the EU15 median for small consumers, but above the EU15 median for medium and large consumers. UK domestic electricity and gas prices for medium consumers remained below the EU median.
	However, historically prices to industrial users have been below the EU median, and right up to October 2005 industrial prices were no higher than the EU median except for the very largest energy consumers. (Source: DTI Quarterly Energy prices; http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file30734.pdf).
	Independent research by Oxford Economic Research Associates shows that in 2004 the UK had the most competitive electricity and gas markets in the EU and G7. The extent to which markets are assessed as competitive is based on factors such as the degree of market opening, the market shares of suppliers and the separation of transmission and distribution activities. This report is available at:
	http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file28425.pdf.
	We have not conducted any in depth research into the competitiveness of the UK and other industrial countries in terms of government subsidies in the energy sector. The UK's experience shows that by giving clear investment signals to market players, competitive energy markets are the best way of maintaining secure and sustainable energy supplies, increasing efficiency and improving services for customers.

Energy Policy

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost to households in the UK of the EU not implementing its energy policy in relation to gas.

Malcolm Wicks: The lack of a liberalised gas market in Europe has had a detrimental impact on the UK gas market recently. Without a liberalised market European energy companies face gas prices linked to oil prices, and dulled incentives for investment in infrastructure, balancing supply and demand efficiently, competitive pressures to compete and ability to export in response to price signals.
	In a Global Insight report commissioned by Centrica and published in the summer 2005, it was estimated that the lack of effective liberalisation and the dominance of oil-linked long-term supply contracts in Europe would cost UK end-consumers (household and industrial) some 10 billion over following year (see www.centrica.com/index.asp?pageid= 799newsid=743). It was estimated that 4.3 billion of these costs would be borne by households.
	In addition, Ofgem analysis suggests that the cost to UK consumers of Interconnector flows not always being in line with price signals during the last winter was 1.5 billion, and would cost 3 billion if repeated during the coming winter (www.ofgem.gov.uk/temp/ofgem/cache/cmsattach/14649_Sonia_10_April_Final _notes_version.pdf?wtfrom=/ofgem/work/index.jspsection=/areasofwork/wholesale marketmonitoring).

Energy Policy

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what state subsidy other European countries give to help companies who are intensive users of energy.

Ian McCartney: Direct support for energy costs is normally illegal under European state aid rules. However, companies which happen to be energy intensive users can legitimately benefit from a variety of aids, for example regional aid or aid for research and development, as long as these aids have been duly notified to and approved by the European Commission.
	Details on aids granted by other member states can be found in the Commission's State Aid Scoreboard at:
	http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/state_aid/scoreboard/2006/spring en.pdf.

Methyl Tertiary Butyl

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of potential carcinogenic effects from the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether as a fuel additive.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 28 June 2006
	I have been asked to reply.
	This has been transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions for reply. The toxicology of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) has been considered extensively by various Expert Groups reporting to the European Commission's Directorates-General for Environment, Employment and Social Affairs and the Joint Research Centre, and globally by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). All these Committees have considered the data concerning the potential carcinogenic properties of MTBE and have concluded that it is not carcinogenic in humans. My Department has not directly assessed the potential carcinogenicity of MTBE.

Ministerial Visits

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to visit Bexley borough.

Malcolm Wicks: I have no immediate plans to visit Bexley.

Mobile Phones

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance has been issued to the mobile telecommunications industry on the provision of information on handset specific absorption rates  (a) at all points of sale,  (b) with each telephone and  (c) via other means including the internet.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 26 June 2006
	In 2000 the mobile operators and telecommunications industry received guidance based upon the Stewart report Mobile Phones and Health, May 2000, published by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP).
	The Government agreed with the Stewart report's recommendations, which complies with international exposure guidelines that consumers should be able to get information about specific absorption rates (SAR) when:
	purchasing a phone at point of sale;
	online via the internet; and
	in or on the product's packaging.
	The Government then agreed with the mobile operators and telecommunications industry that the provision of such information should be the responsibility of the mobile phone manufacturers.
	In September 2005, the Department of Health produced advice about SAR levels in their two leaflets on Mobile Phones and Health, which said that users might wish to take account of relative SAR values when choosing a mobile phone, while pointing out that all models sold in the UK already meet the international exposure guidelines. The leaflets are available from: http://www.dh.gov.uk/ Exposure from mobile phones and the provision of information on SAR values was also discussed in the follow up publication to the Stewart report Mobile Phones and Health 2004 (http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/documents_of_nrpb/abstracts/absd15-5.htm para 61-68 page 28-29).
	In 1998, a European body called the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) first issued international exposure guidelines on limiting people's exposure to electromagnetic fields. The ICNIRP is an independent international scientific organisation formally recognised by the World Health Organisation.
	The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended that EU member countries that had no specific regulations on SAR levels for their mobile telecommunications industry, should voluntarily adopt the standards recommended in the ICNIRP guidelines. The UK's mobile network operators accepted this approach.
	The Mobile Manufacturers Forum, a European industry body representing most large manufacturers, publishes SAR levels for handsets on its website http://www.mmfai.org/

Nuclear Power

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contribution the UK has made to the discussion of nuclear policy options in the Energy Position Paper being drafted for the G8 meeting in St. Petersburg in July.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK has been fully involved in all discussions on energy security with our G8 partners, recognising that there is a range of positions within G8 on nuclear energy and that the UK's position is subject to the outcome of the Energy Review.

Nuclear Power

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of the safety of  (a) the Hinkley Point nuclear power station and  (b) similar stations.

Malcolm Wicks: None. The UK's independent safety regulator, HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, is responsible for carrying out such assessments.

Parliamentary Questions

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reply to question number 70906, on EU committees, tabled by the right hon. Member for Wells on 11 May 2006.

Ian McCartney: The question was answered on 3 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 857-58W.

Paternity Leave

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make a decision on the implementation date of new rights for additional paternity leave.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is the Government's intention to introduce additional paternity leave and pay alongside the extension of statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance and statutory adoption pay to 52 weeks and our aim would be to do so by the end of this Parliament. This will provide an opportunity for an equal division of paid leave between mothers and fathers and allow an equal responsibility for caring for their child during its first year.
	The Work and Families Act 2006 takes broad powers to provide certain employees (generally fathers) with a new entitlement to take leave to care for a child and a new entitlement to receive pay while on leave, if certain conditions are met.
	We recently consulted on the detail of the additional paternity leave and pay scheme and are currently analysing the responses received. We have had a large number of responses from a variety of interested parties and our aim is to publish a Government response setting out the next steps in the near future.

Personal Debt

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice and support services are available for people aged between 16 and 24 years for dealing with personal debt; what steps he is taking to raise awareness of such services; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We are taking action to help those with personal debt problems as outlined in the Governments 2004 Tackling Over-indebtedness: Action Plan and the subsequent 2005 annual report. Examples include the recently launched 45 million Face-to-Face Debt Advice Project, that will result in hundreds of new debt advisers and the l million per annum support given to the National Debtline phone service. Such assistance is open to people of all ages.

Photovoltaic Solar Panels

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost of converting each  (a) new house,  (b) existing house,  (c) new office and  (d) existing office to photo-voltaic solar panels.

Malcolm Wicks: In addition to the Major PV Demonstration programme with a budget of 31 million, the Government have spent 10 million on photovoltaic field trials since 2000, which will provide information on operating performance, reliability and the maintenance of building-integrated PV. However, specific information on the likely costs of installing photovoltaic panels on all new and existing homes and offices was outside the scope of this work. As a rough estimate the costs to install 1 kW of photovoltaic solar panels is in the region of 6,000 and electricity usage of a typical house would require 4.5 kW of PV. In terms of an office, it is difficult to provide similar estimates, as it would depend on the size, occupancy, equipment used and other variables.

Pistol Exports

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment was made of compliance with the UK Government's obligations under the Wassenaar Agreement before the approval of the re-export of 20,000 Italian Beretta pistols to Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are satisfied that it was fully compliant with its Wassenaar obligations in this case.

Post Office

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices closed in  (a) Yeovil constituency and  (b) Somerset in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The question the hon. Member has asked relates to operational matters for which Post Office Ltd. is directly responsible. Post Office Ltd. have provided the following figures relating to the numbers of post office branches in the Yeovil and Somerset constituencies.
	
		
			  Number of Post Office branches open 
			   Yeovil constituency  Somerset area 
			 2001-02 40 218 
			 2002-03 39 215 
			 2003-04 35 205 
			 2004-05 35 195 
			 2005-06 35 194 
		
	
	Information relating to post office branches for each parliamentary constituency is placed in the Libraries of the House on an annual basis.

Post Office

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices closed in  (a) Edinburgh West constituency and  (b) other Edinburgh parliamentary constituencies in the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The question the hon. Member has asked relates to operational matters for which Post Office Ltd. is directly responsible. Post Office Ltd. have provided the following figures relating to the numbers of post office branches in the constituencies that are a part of the City of Edinburgh.
	
		
			  Area  Number of Post Office branches 
			  City of Edinburgh  2001-02  2003-04  Closures 
			 Edinburgh East and Musselburgh 21 18 3 
			 Edinburgh North and Leith 22 17 5 
			 Edinburgh South 17 14 3 
			 Edinburgh West 21 21 0 
			 Edinburgh Pentlands 15 14 1 
			 Edinburgh Central 20 18 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Area  Number of Post Office branches 
			  City of Edinburgh  2004-05  2005-06  Closures 
			 Edinburgh East 17 17 0 
			 Edinburgh North and Leith 16 16 0 
			 Edinburgh South 12 12 0 
			 Edinburgh South West 19 19 0 
			 Edinburgh West 17 17 0 
			  Note: The constituencies changed in 2004-05 
		
	
	Information relating to post office branches for each parliamentary constituency is placed in the Libraries of the House on an annual basis.

Post Office

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for which services contracts with the Post Office are held on a Government-wide basis; and what the  (a) start and  (b) termination date is of each contract.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Post Office Ltd. (POL) provides services to Government through commercial contracts with individual Departments and local authorities. POL views these contracts as commercially confidential.
	The services offered by POL on behalf of Government Departments and the network of branches through which they are available are.
	
		
			  Service  Network 
			 Benefit payments through the Post Office Card Account and exceptions service All branches 
			 Motor Vehicle licensing 4,700 branches 
			 Photocard Driving Licence Application Checking service 700 branches 
			 BBC TV licensing including budget card payments and refunds (contract ceases at end of July 2006) All branches 
			 Rod licensing All branches in England and Wales 
			 Passport check and send service 2,500 branches 
			 European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) check and send service and application form distribution All branches 
			 Game licences Available through all branches but stocked based on demand 
			 Benefit payments for Asylum seekers Selected branches 
			 Local authority services including rent and rates bill payments and travel schemes Local authority specific

Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department takes to ensure that charities comply with the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

Margaret Hodge: My officials hold frequent discussions with the Information Commissioner's Office, which is responsible for the enforcement of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.
	The Information Commissioner's Office publish guidance on their website (http://www.ico.gov.uk/eventual.aspx?id=96) covering the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, this includes guidance for charities. The Information Commissioner's Office respond to complaints about charities breaching the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 in the same way that they respond to complaints about other companies.

Shops

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of independent retail shops that have  (a) opened and  (b) closed in Beverley and Holderness in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Value added tax (VAT) registrations and de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of business start-ups and closures. DTI data on the number of VAT retail business registrations and de-registrations in Beverley and Holderness constituency from 1997 to 2004 are shown in the following table. For comparison, data on the stock have been provided.
	
		
			  VAT registrations and de-registrations in retail( 1)  in Beverley and Holderness, 1997-2004 
			   Registrations  De-registrations  End of year stock 
			 1997 25 40 355 
			 1998 25 25 360 
			 1999 35 35 355 
			 2000 25 30 355 
			 2001 25 40 340 
			 2002 30 35 335 
			 2003 35 35 335 
			 2004 35 35 340 
			 1 Standard Industrial Classification 52, retail trade (except of motor vehicles), repair of personal and household goods.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 for data protection reasons. Due to rounding, the stock at the beginning of the year, plus registrations during the year, minus de-registrations during the year, may not exactly match the stock at the start of the next year.  Source: Small Business Service figures based on data from the ONS Inter Departmental Business Register. 
		
	
	VAT registration and de-registration data do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if their turnover falls below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register may not have closed. In the retail sector 63 per cent. of enterprises in the UK (200,000 out of 320,000) were registered for VAT at the start of 2004.
	The number of VAT registrations and de-registrations in Beverley and Holderness across all sectors from 1997 to 2004 is shown in the following table. Since 1997 the overall stock of businesses in Beverley and Holderness has risen by 7 per cent.
	
		
			  VAT registrations and de-registrations and start of year stock in Beverley and Holderness (all sectors), 1997-2004 
			   Registrations  De-registrations  End of year stock 
			 1997 230 230 2,845 
			 1998 215 190 2,875 
			 1999 200 195 2,875 
			 2000 245 205 2,915 
			 2001 230 220 2,930 
			 2002 265 230 2,960 
			 2003 275 205 3,025 
			 2004 260 250 3,035 
			  Note: Due to rounding, the stock at the beginning of the year, plus registrations during the year, minus de-registrations during the year, may not exactly match the stock at the start of the next year.  Source:  Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994-2004, Small Business Service, available from the Library of the House and also at http://www.sbs.gov.uk/vats. 
		
	
	Business closures are part of the functioning of a dynamic economy and represent an increased willingness among the business population to take risks or the displacement of less productive and innovative firms by more productive ones. Research indicates that improvements in productivity and economic growth are more likely to come from higher levels of both business entry and business exit.
	Regional disparities in start-up and closure rates can have their root in the different economic history and different opportunities available in each region. The Government's aim is for every region to achieve success and good economic growth, which is why increasing resources have been put at the disposal of each Regional Development Agency.

Shops

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of independent retail shops that have  (a) opened and  (b) closed in the Stroud constituency in each year since 1997; and what percentage each figure represents of the total number of independent shops in the constituency in each year.

Margaret Hodge: Value added tax (VAT) registrations and de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of business start-ups and closures. DTI data on the number of VAT retail business registrations and de-registrations in Stroud, and as a percentage of the stock from 1997 to 2004 are shown in the following table. For comparison, data on the stock have been provided.
	
		
			  VAT registrations, de-registrations and stock in retail( 1)  in Stroud, 1997 to 2004 
			  Stroud  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Registrations 45 35 35 25 25 35 30 35 
			 De-registrations 45 25 40 30 35 30 25 30 
			 Stock at end-year 360 370 365 360 355 360 365 370 
			 Registrations/stock (percentage) 13 10 10 7 8 9 8 10 
			 De-registrations/stock (percentage) 12 7 11 8 10 8 7 8 
			 (1 )Standard Industrial Classification 52, retail trade (except of motor vehicles), repair of personal and household goods.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 for data protection reasons.  Source:  Small Business Service figures based on data from the ONS Inter Departmental Business Register. 
		
	
	The number of VAT registrations and de-registrations in Stroud across all sectors from 1997 to 2004 is shown in the following table below. Since the end of 1997 the overall stock of businesses in Stroud has risen by 10 per cent.
	
		
			  VAT registrations, de-registrations and stock in Stroud (all sectors), 1997 to 2004 
			  Stroud-all businesses  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Registrations 405 370 395 320 335 385 385 335 
			 De-registrations 285 270 310 300 285 300 325 345 
			 Stock at end-year 3,845 3,945 4,030 4,050 4,105 4,190 4,250 4,245 
			  Source: Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994-2004, Small Business Service, available at http://www.sbs.gov.uk/vats. 
		
	
	VAT registration and de-registration data do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if their turnover falls below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register may not have closed. In the retail sector 63 per cent. of enterprises in the UK (200,000 out of 320,000) were registered for VAT at the start of 2004.

South West Regional Development Agency

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the  (a) budget and  (b) estimated costs of running the South West Regional Development Agency are for 2006-07; and how many civil servants are employed by the agency.

Margaret Hodge: The 2006-07 grant in aid budget for the South West of England Regional Development Agency is 159 million and their approved budget for administration costs is 21.2 million. The agency employs 277 public sector workers.

Sustainability

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the work which has been carried out under the aegis of the DTI Sector Sustainability Challenge to embed the principles of sustainable consumption and development across the commercial sector; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The 100,000 Sector Sustainability Challenge was jointly funded by DTI and DEFRA. The challenge provided funding for organisations to promote, develop and implement sectoral sustainable development in ways that stimulate practical actions that will lead to improved performance.
	My officials are currently reviewing the Sector Sustainability Challenge with DEFRA and the Sustainable Development Commission. We will consider running a further challenge once the evaluation is complete.
	The Sustainable Consumption and Production Action Plan which is due to be published later this year, will look at work already done on Sustainable Consumption and Production and consider what more needs to be done, including continuing engagement with business to push the agenda forward.

Tidal Lagoon Electricity Generation Project (Swansea)

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the viability of the proposed tidal lagoon electricity generation project in the Swansea bay area; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI has previously commissioned an independent assessment of a proposed tidal lagoon scheme in Swansea Bay available at:
	www.dti.gov.uk/files/file30617.pdf?pubpdfdload=06%2F1051

Trade Descriptions Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the operation of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968; if he will list the statutory instruments that have been made under this Act; and what recent representations he has received on the operation of the Act.

Ian McCartney: The following statutory instruments have been made under the Trade Descriptions Act:
	SI 1981/1223 Trade Descriptions (Country of Origin) (Cutlery) Order 1981
	SI 1980/1150 Trade Descriptions (Sealskin Goods) (Information) Order 1980
	SI 1996/2757 Trade Descriptions (Place of Production) (Marking) Order 1988
	SI 1996/2757 Trade Descriptions (Place of Production) (Marking) (Revocation) Order 1996
	The Department has received no recent representations about the operation of the Act as such. However, the Department's recent consultation on the implementation of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive canvassed a number of options for the Act, including amendment and repeal. The responses to this consultation are at present under consideration.

United Utilities

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms have been recorded by Ofgem as having been made to wait longer than a month by United Utilities for  (a) an electricity connection,  (b) a water connection and  (c) a gas connection; how many of those firms have had to wait longer than (i) one to three months, (ii) four to six months, (iii) seven to 12 months and (iv) 12 months; if he will ask the regulator to encourage United Utilities to consider compensating the most severely affected firms; and what plans the regulator has to work with the company to resolve the situation.

Malcolm Wicks: As the hon. Member notes in his question, standards of performance measures are for the independent regulators of the respective markets, Ofgem for electricity and Ofwat for water. I have sent a copy of this question to the Chief Executive of both organisations.

Waste to Energy Incinerator

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what waste conversion processes will be used for the energy from the waste power station to be built in Belvedere, south east London.

Malcolm Wicks: It will be a reciprocating grate incinerator design.

Waste to Energy Incinerator

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received following his decision to approve the Waste to Energy Incinerator in Belvedere; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Four letters have been received criticising the decision.

Wind Energy

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will arrange for  (a) the report on wind energy development in the West Midlands commissioned jointly by the Government Office and Advantage West Midlands from TNEI Services Limited in 2004 and  (b) the appendix to that report entitled Urban Wind Energy Sites in Staffordshire to be (i) published, (ii) sent to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme and (iii) placed in the Library.

Margaret Hodge: The Government Office West Midlands has consulted with colleagues within Advantage West Midlands and can confirm that the full report published in June 2004 is held on the Government Office website. Please follow link
	http://www.gos.gov.uk/gowm/docs/177226/394405/Wind_Capacity_Study_-_Westl.pdf
	It should be noted that the appendices referred to in the final report do not refer to Urban Wind Energy Sites in Staffordshire and that to the best of ours and Advantage West Midlands knowledge no such appendix exists.

Work and Families Bill

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish draft regulations on the definition of carer in the Work and Families Bill.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We ran a consultation on the draft regulations on flexible working, which closed on 25 April 2006. We will bring forward the draft regulations towards the end of this year. The new law is due to come into force from April 2007.

NORTHERN IRELAND

2011 Census

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a decision will be taken about the inclusion of questions on knowledge of Irish and Ulster Scots in the 2011 census in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: Proposals for the 2011 census, including the topics and questions to be included will be brought forward in a White Paper, currently planned for the autumn of 2008. These proposals will take account of consultation with users, the testing and evaluation of options and the balancing of different requirements. The final content of the census will ultimately be determined through the legislative process in the form of a census order and census regulations, probably around 2010.

Asbestos-related Illness

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has been made of the number of individuals who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related illness in the Province in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The number of people diagnosed with asbestos-related illness in Northern Ireland is not available.
	Information is available on the number of those admitted as inpatients to hospitals in Northern Ireland, with a diagnosis of asbestos-related illness.
	The following table details the number of admissions(1) to hospital with a primary or secondary diagnosis of asbestos-related illness, for each year between 1995 and 2004 (the latest calendar year for which data is available). It should be noted that any individual could have been admitted to hospital more than once over the course of a year or over a number of years and would therefore be counted more than once in the table.
	
		
			  Hospital AdmissionsNorthern Ireland 
			   Number 
			 1995 106 
			 1996 124 
			 1997 123 
			 1998 156 
			 1999 166 
			 2000 181 
			 2001 208 
			 2002 237 
			 2003 233 
			 2004 280 
			 (1) Discharges and deaths are used as an approximation to admissions.  Source:  Hospital Inpatients System DHSS and PS

Cancer

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been diagnosed with cancer in Northern Ireland in the last three years; what estimate he has made of how many of them have experienced a consequent loss of income; what the estimated average loss of income experienced by cancer patients was in the same period; what financial support is available to cancer patients; and what steps his Department has taken to inform cancer patients of the support available to them.

Paul Goggins: The following table details the incidence of all cancers (ICD-10 COO-D48) in Northern Ireland for 2001-03, the most recent three year period for which data are available.
	
		
			   All cancers  All cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer( 1) ) 
			 2001 8,667 6,510 
			 2002 9,114 6,737 
			 2003 9,219 6,805 
			 Total 27,000 20,052 
			 (1) Non-melanoma skin cancers which have an excellent prognosis and are rarely fatal, are frequently excluded when quoting incidence statistics 
		
	
	This information has been provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has made no estimate of the number of cancer patients experiencing a loss of income following their diagnosis or the average loss of income. Many people find that a diagnosis of cancer affects them financially and, depending on their individual circumstances, they may be entitled to financial assistance in the form of state benefits. Current practice in the HPSS is for nursing staff to discuss these issues with cancer patients and, where appropriate, to refer them to social work staff who will provide advice on social security benefits and sources of information.
	The Social Security Agency's Disability and Carer's Service contact centre assists with applications for disability living allowance (DLA), attendance allowance (AA) and carer's allowance. People affected by cancer can also avail of the special rules scheme within DLA and AA which enables terminally ill patients to have their applications fast-tracked. An award of either benefit under special rules will mean the patient will receive the highest rate payable for help with personal care.
	The Social Security Agency has worked, in conjunction with Macmillan Cancer Support, to identify and address the barriers facing cancer patients when they need to access benefits. This work has resulted in enhanced cancer awareness training for Agency staff; an information booklet for patients and carers Help with the Cost of Cancer was launched in March 2005; and an outreach service of Specialist Benefit Advisers for those with cancer has been piloted.

Cancer

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the total cost  (a) of screening for cervical cancer,  (b) arising from management of those with abnormal cervical findings and  (c) of treating patients with cervical cancer in the Province in 2005-06.

Paul Goggins: The total cost of screening for cervical cancer in 2005-06 was planned to be 856,000.
	Information is not readily available on the costs of managing those with abnormal cervical findings or for treating those patients with cervical cancer. These would have been included in the 40.4 million planned expenditure for all types of cancer.

Cancer

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make provision for docetaxel to be made available on the NHS to those with late stage prostate cancer in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: Additional funding of 21 million has been allocated for specialist drugs in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Of this sum, 6 million has been earmarked for cancer drugs. It is for health and social services boards, as commissioners of services, to prioritise how funding is used, taking into account the competing demands and pressures in their areas and the strategic objectives and priorities of my Department. Health and social services boards' investment plans for 2006-07 include proposals to fund the introduction of docetaxel for the treatment of late stage prostate cancer at a projected cost of 195,000 per annum.

Chief Electoral Officer

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the recruitment process for the new Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland; and on what date  (a) the post was advertised, (b) the post was offered to the successful candidate and  (c) the appointment was approved by him.

David Hanson: The recruitment of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland was by a full and open competition. The appointment was based on merit and applicants both at the sift stage and at the interviews had to satisfy the essential competences required for the post.
	The post was advertised in the press and on the Northern Ireland Office and Cabinet Office websites on 12 December 2005.
	It is not Government practice to disclose information relating to when appointment decisions were taken and when successful candidates were notified as the disclosure of such information could inhibit the frankness and candour of future internal discussions.

Chief Electoral Officer

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many candidates  (a) applied and  (b) were shortlisted for the post of Northern Ireland Chief Electoral Officer; and how many of those candidates were (i) women and (ii) from an ethnic minority community.

David Hanson: Fourteen candidates applied for the post of Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland; three of the applicants were women.
	Six candidates were shortlisted; two of the shortlisted candidates were women. There were no applications from an ethnic minority community.

Child Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the plans are for the expenditure of the funds allocated for  (a) Child and Adolescent Crisis Response Teams under Theme 5: Child Protection and  (b) Rapid Response Child Protection Teams under Theme 6: Children with Special Needs and Disabilities in 2006-07; and what the timetable is for the expenditure in each case.

Paul Goggins: An outline structure for Rapid Response Child Protection Teams under Theme 5 of the Children and Young People Funding Package has now been developed through a cross health and social services board and trust working group led by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. An approach to implementation of this revised structure is currently being agreed with a view to immediate rollout. An investment of 1.85 million has been allocated to establish teams and expenditure will begin to be incurred following agreement to the implementation strategy in September 2006.
	Health and social services boards are developing proposals on the allocation of 0.5 million in 2006-07 and 1.0 million in 2007-08 to establish Child and Adolescent Crisis Response Teams under Theme 6 of the Children and Young People Funding Package. The Department expects to receive the final proposals within the next few weeks to allow the recruitment process in each board area to begin in the autumn.

Departmental Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on advertising by  (a) each Department in Northern Ireland and  (b) the Northern Ireland Office in each of the last three years.

David Hanson: pursuant to the reply, 17 May 2006, Official Report, c. 1009W
	I should inform the hon. Gentleman that the figures provided for four Northern Ireland Departments were incorrect. The figures for DOE, DFP and DHSSPS were transposedthe amounts stated were correct but attributed to the wrong Departments. In the case of DSD, an incorrect figure was given. I apologise to the hon. Gentleman for this error.
	The correct information is as follows:
	The following amounts were spent on advertising in each of the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office, in (A) 2003-04 and (B) 2004-05:
	
		
			   Expenditure () 
			  Department  (A) 2003-04  (B) 2004-05 
			 Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister 324,053 191,800 
			 Agriculture and Rural Development 371,573 371,227 
			 Culture, Arts and Leisure 24,758 11,517 
			 Education 80,266 73,137 
			 Employment and Learning 149,210 498,570 
			 Enterprise, Trade and Investment 154,656 88,420 
			 Environment 977,821 1,333,024 
			 Finance and Personnel 298,260 280,789 
			 Health, Social Services and Public Safety 355,141 347,494 
			 Regional Development 24,282 22,364 
			 Social Development 107,793 98,766 
			 Total 2,867,813 3,317,108 
			
			 Northern Ireland Office 192,978 279,697 
			 Grand total 3,060,791 3,596,805 
		
	
	These figures are compiled using the total media spend for all forms of advertising.
	The figures requested for (C) the remaining year have not yet been completed and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the introduction of discrete capital values in relation to domestic rates will be revenue neutral.

David Hanson: The revaluation of domestic properties in Northern Ireland in the form of discrete capital values is not in itself about increasing revenues, rather it is about redistributing the rating burden among households in a fairer way. Domestic rate increases usually apply every year in line with Budget plans, however, in the year of revaluation, 2007-08, the Government have set a 6 per cent. increase for the regional rate, which is significantly below the recent trend increases. District rate increases are a matter for the individual district councils.

EU Membership

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effects on Northern Ireland of UK membership of the EU since 1997.

David Hanson: The EU has had a positive benefit for Northern Ireland since 1997. I have placed in the Library an overview of the main effects of membership of the European Union across the wide range of Northern Ireland's main sectoral policy areas. However, it is apparent that the social, economic and environmental fabric of the region has clearly benefited from EU legislation, EU funds and the Internal Market.
	For example, NI exports to EU countries accounted for 54.2 per cent. of all manufacturing exports in 2004-05. Over the period 1997-98 to 2004-05, manufacturing exports to the European Union as a proportion of total manufacturing sales increased from 17 per cent. to 18.3 per cent.
	From 1997-98 to 2003-04, NI manufacturing companies' export sales in constant prices to the European Union were estimated to have increased by 32 per cent. from 1.7 billion to 2.3 billion. In 2004-05, following the accession of 10 candidate countries, export sales to the European Union rose to 2.4 billion. NI exports to the new member countries were estimated to be worth 54.3 million in 2004-05.
	In addition approximately 1.821 billion in Structural Funds between 1997 and 2006 has co-financed large-scale infrastructure projects such as the North-West gas pipeline, significant investments in roads and rail services, support for business creation and development, training and education measures, promotion of tourism and cultural heritage, urban and rural development, information technology infrastructure, as well as support for the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
	While the provision of 775 million up to 2006 under the PEACE programme has enabled many thousands of economic and community-based social inclusion projects to directly address the legacy of the conflict and to take the opportunities arising from peace.

Ministerial Visits (Accommodation)

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions  (a) civil servants and  (b) special advisers in each Northern Ireland Department, including the Northern Ireland Office, stayed overnight in (i) five star, (ii) four star and (iii) three star hotels in each of the last three years.

David Hanson: Departments use a hotel booking agent to book hotel accommodation for civil servants and special advisers. The information held does not identify the rating of the hotel. Information in relation to 2003-04 is not available however, the average cost of an overnight stay over the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2006 was:
	
		
			   Average rate per night () 
			 2004-05 88.51 
			 2005-06 91.91

Procurement

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take social considerations into account in procurements by his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

David Hanson: Northern Ireland Procurement Policy applies to all Government Departments, their agencies, non-departmental public bodies and public corporations.
	The procurement process is governed by 12 guiding principles, one of which requires procurement policy to pay due regard to economic and social policies, rather than cut across them.
	The Central Procurement Directorate issued procurement guidance, in 2004, approved by the Procurement Board, which outlines the range of possibilities for integrating social considerations into public procurement in Northern Ireland under the existing procurement rules.

School Staff

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees of education and library boards in Northern Ireland have had their employment  (a) terminated and  (b) altered as a result of investigations into school staff who may pose a risk to children in each of the last three years.

Maria Eagle: The number of employees of education and library boards in Northern Ireland who have had their employment  (a) terminated or  (b) altered as a result of investigations into schools staff who may pose a risk to children in each of the last three years is detailed as follows:
	
		
			  Education and library boards 
			   Terminated  Altered 
			 2003-04 4 2 
			 2004-05   
			 2005-06   
			  Note:  School staff covers teaching and non-teaching staff.

School Violence

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1986W, on school violence, if he will break down by education board area the number of school pupils in the Province who have been suspended for  (a) attacks on teachers and  (b) bullying in each of the last three years; and how many such pupils were expelled in each case.

Maria Eagle: From the 2002-03 school year, statistics on the reasons for suspension have been gathered annually from each education and library board and relate to the number of individual suspensions not to the number of pupils suspended.
	Table 1 details the number of individual suspensions(1) for physical attacks on staff, in each education and library board, for the 2002-03 to 2004-05 school years:
	
		
			  Table 1: Physical attacks on staff 
			  Education and Library Board  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Belfast 75 73 84 
			 Western 99 72 49 
			 North Eastern 91 49 51 
			 South Eastern 64 79 57 
			 Southern 36 47 21 
			 NI Total 365 320 262 
		
	
	Table 2 details the number of individual suspensions(1) for bullying other pupils, in each education and library board, for the 2002-03 to 2004-05 school years:
	
		
			  Table 2: Bullying other pupils 
			  Education and Library Board  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Belfast 53 73 66 
			 Western 52 64 67 
			 North Eastern 66 84 71 
			 South Eastern 57 49 60 
			 Southern 61 71 58 
			 NI Total 289 341 322 
		
	
	The reasons for expulsion were first collected in 2003-04. The numbers involved are relatively small and are not disaggregated between education and library boards because of the risk that a school/pupil may be identifiable.
	Table 3 shows the total number of pupils expelled for physical attacks on staff and bullying other pupils, for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 school years:
	
		
			  Table 3 
			   2003-04  2004-05 
			 Physical attacks on staff 7 7 
			 Bullying other pupils 0 2 
		
	
	(1) The count of occasions is based on each incidence of suspension, where an incident is defined as a count from the first day a pupil was suspended until the last day suspended. In previous years, the count of occasions was based on each record of suspension identified by the education and library boards, where in some instances, longer periods of suspension may have had more than one record. This change is due to an improvement in the data collection systems for suspensions in the education and library boards which has enabled better analysis of the data. As a result, the number of occasions pupils were suspended in 2004-05 has decreased from previous years. However, care should be taken when comparing the number of occasions in 2004-05 with the number of occasions in previous years.

Sex Offenders Register

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons on the Sex Offenders Register in Northern Ireland have been prosecuted for failing to comply with notification of change in address requirements; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The Sexual Offences Act 2003 requires an offender to notify the police of a change of their notified details (such as name or address) within three days of the change taking place. Breach of the requirements is an arrestable offence and may result in a term of imprisonment of up to five years.
	The Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed that one person was reported for prosecution in 2005-06 for failing to notify the police of a change in address. There were no prosecutions in the previous three years. This low figure is largely a result of an overall high compliance rate with the requirements, however the PSNI pursue a policy of actively seeking to trace offenders who fail to comply.

Sexual Health

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the incidence was of sexually transmitted diseases among  (a) under and  (b) over 16-year-olds in Northern Ireland in each year since 1995.

Paul Goggins: The information in the table gives details for the total number of episodes (for selected diagnoses of sexually transmitted infection), seen for care at GUM clinics, in Northern Ireland since 1995. This is available by age group and is shown in the following table .
	
		
			   (a) Number of sexually transmitted infections in under 16 year olds  (b) Number of sexually transmitted infections in over 16 year olds 
			 1995 11 2,065 
			 1996 (1) (1) 
			 1997 (1) (1) 
			 1998 9 2,641 
			 1999 15 3,103 
			 2000 24 3,480 
			 2001 16 3,478 
			 2002 20 3,721 
			 2003 20 3,853 
			 2004 23 3,907 
			 2005 16 4,377 
			 (1) Incomplete data   Notes:  1. Figures represent new treatment episodes of sexually transmitted infections occurring in the specified age groups, and not individual people. An individual may have contributed more than one episode of a particular diagnosis and to more than one diagnosis.  2. Selected diagnoses for 1995 are: Postpubertal uncomplicated Chlamydia; Postpubertal uncomplicated gonorrhoea; Infectious syphilis; Anogenital herpes simplex (first attack) and Anogenital warts (first attack).  3. Selected diagnoses and codes for 1998 and onwards are: Uncomplicated genital Chlamydia; uncomplicated gonorrhoea; primary and secondary infectious syphilis; Anogenital herpes simplex (first attack) and Anogenital warts (first attack).   Source:  KC60 return, genito-urinary medicine clinics.

Sexual Orientation Strategy

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the draft Sexual Orientation Strategy will be published; and what the reasons were for the delay in publication.

David Hanson: The draft Sexual Orientation Strategy is to be published following close working with and the involvement of the lesbian, gay and bisexual sector. It is our intention to publish the draft strategy for consultation in the autumn.

Students with Learning Disabilities

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students with a learning disability within each of Northern Ireland's hospital trust areas will  (a) transfer at age 19 years in the current academic year from Education Service responsibility to Health and Social Service responsibility and  (b) will be offered full adult day care provision by the Department of Health and Social Services as befits their needs; what processes exist within the Department of Health and Social Services to ensure adequate forward planning to meet the needs of those clients in transition from the education sector; and if he will make a statement on the level of provision for such clients within the health and social services sector.

Paul Goggins: The information required to answer parts  (a) and  (b) of this question is not held centrally and will take some time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the information becomes available and place a copy in the Library.
	The boards determine the needs of their population and allocate resources to meet these needs. Day care services provided through the Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts are for those individuals who will be unable to access services provided elsewhere. Additional investment in day care will continue to be made for those who do not have access to any other form of provision, such as further education, skills training or employment.

Superannuation Entitlements

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2006,  Official Report, column 796W, on superannuation entitlements, when he expects the outstanding cases in  (a) the Northern Ireland Office and  (b) the Southern Health and Social Services Board to be concluded.

Paul Goggins: The Department cannot give any commitment as to when cases brought by part-time employees before the industrial tribunals will be completed. This is a matter for the tribunal. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Southern Health and Social Services Board are parties before the tribunal and have no special influence on when cases may be listed.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Travel

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to ensure that all flights undertaken by him and his officials are carbon neutral; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) on 15 May 2006,  Official Report, column 820W.

Energy Review

Paul Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister which submissions to the Energy Review he has read  (a) in full,  (b) in part and  (c) in summary; and what criteria he used to determine this selection.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave my right hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, West and Royton (Mr. Meacher) on 21 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1874W.

Extradition

Peter Luff: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with  (a) the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and  (b) the Home Secretary on the impact of extradition arrangements to the United States on the UK's commercial relationship with that country.

Tony Blair: I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects. Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Casinos

James Duddridge: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what  (a) discussions and  (b) meetings he had with (i) Thames Gateway, (ii) Thames Gateway South Essex, (iii) the East of England Development Agency and (iv) Southend-on-Sea borough council regarding the possibility of a single bid for a regional casino being entered from the Thames Gateway region.

John Prescott: I have not discussed the possibility of a single bid for a regional casino being entered from the Thames Gateway with any organisation.

Departmental Budget

Paul Beresford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2006,  Official Report, column 787W, on the departmental budget, when he plans to publish the Department's annual report and accounts.

John Prescott: Shortly after the end of the current financial year, as is the usual time for Government Departments.

Ministerial Visits

Ben Wallace: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether, during his visit to Texas and the USA,  (a) he and  (b) his officials met (i) representatives of Canatxx Ltd. and its associated companies and (ii) representatives of the gas storage industry.

John Prescott: No.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Child Care (Tax Relief)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about extending tax relief on child care.

Meg Munn: The Government have a vision that families will be able to afford flexible, high quality child care services that are appropriate for their needs. To further this aim, the Government have directed substantial help with child care costs for low to moderate-income families through the child care element of the working tax credit. To engage employers with employees' child care needs, the Government have also introduced an income tax and national insurance contributions exemption on 55 per week of employer-supported child care. This combination of tax relief and tax credits is working to ensure that every child gets the best start in life and that parents have more choice about how to balance their work and family life.
	The Ministers for Women and Equality bring a gender and equalities perspective to issues such as child care by sitting on several high level Cabinet Committees, including domestic affairs.

Flexible Working

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what information the Government have issued to women on their right to flexible work.

Meg Munn: The Department for Trade and Industry, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) and the direct.gov website provide guidance for employees (men and women) on the right to request flexible working. The direct.gov website has three interactive tools which help employees make applications to work flexibly. ACAS provide leaflets and also operate a helpline, answering queries from both employees and employers on employment matters including flexible working.

Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002.

Meg Munn: We have not yet carried out a formal assessment of the effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002, which enables political parties, if they wish to do so, to use positive measures to reduce inequality between the number of men and women selected as election candidates for their party. However, an independent report published by the Hansard Society in 2005 found that all-women shortlists are the quickest and most effective means of delivering equal representation.

Sex Industry

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with the Solicitor-General on increasing the number of cases brought by the Crown Prosecution Service and the prosecution rate in relation to women being forced to work in the sex industry.

Meg Munn: As a Member of the Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking, I work closely with ministerial colleagues including the Solicitor-General to ensure that provision for victims is sensitive to women's needs. The prosecution rate has been discussed at meetings of the Group.
	To date there have been 30 convictions (in 16 separate cases) for trafficking for sexual exploitation, resulting in sentences of between two to nine years on specific countsalthough convictions for several counts have resulted in sentences of up to 21 years.

Tax Credits

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many working women have been awarded funds from the child care element of working tax credits; and if she will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The estimated number of working women who benefited from the child care element of child and working tax credits for 2005-06, as at 3 April 2006, is around 367,000. Around 123,000 were part of a couple and 244,000 were single.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1590W, on Afghanistan, what assessment she has made of whether the Afghan Government's plans to establish community police units under the control of the Ministry of Interior will include adequate vetting procedures; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: Given Afghanistan's recent history and the destruction of administrative capacity, detailed vetting procedures will not be in place. The Afghan Government are currently working on the details of President Karzai's community police initiative. President Karzai has given assurances that the units will be under the control of the Ministry of Interior. Their purpose is to deliver stability in some rural areas. We and international partners are maintaining a dialogue with the Afghan Government as their plans evolve.

Afghanistan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of UK funding for Afghanistan is administered through the  (a) UN,  (b) EU and  (c) UK embassy in Kabul; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: In financial year 2005-06, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Afghanistan Drugs Inter-departmental Unit provided 157 million in bilateral assistance to Afghanistan. 15 per cent. of this funding was administered through the UN and 44 per cent. was channelled through the World Bank administered Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund. The remaining 41 per cent. was administered directly by the FCO and DFID in both London and Afghanistan.
	Separately, in terms of multilateral assistance through the UN and EU, the UK provided 19 per cent. of the 1 billion pledged by the EU to Afghanistan between 2001 to 2006. The UK continues to provide core funding through its yearly commitment of 160 million to UN Agencies, a number of which operate in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of patterns of cultivation and production of cannabis resin in Afghanistan over the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The UK has not made any assessment regarding patterns of cultivation and production of cannabis resin in Afghanistan over the last five years. However, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2006 World Drug Report, Afghanistan was the third largest source of cannabis resin, after Pakistan and Morocco, over the period 1999-2003.

Afghanistan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what strategy is in place to ensure equal implementation of poppy counter-narcotics programmes across different provinces in Afghanistan.

Margaret Beckett: The UK is supporting the Government of Afghanistan to implement its National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS) to target the trafficker and the trade, strengthen and diversify legal rural livelihoods, build effective counter-narcotics institutions and reduce domestic demand. Co-ordination of assistance takes place nationally via the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics (MCN) and the Counter Narcotics Cabinet Sub-Committee, which brings together all relevant ministries to oversee and monitor the implementation of the strategy across Afghanistan. The Ministry of Counter Narcotics has identified seven priority provinces (Helmand, Kandahar, Balkh, Farah, Badakhshan, Uruzgan and Samangan) which account for the highest levels of opium poppy cultivation in 2005. Poppy Elimination Programme teams have been established in these provinces and are tasked with increasing public awareness of the counter narcotics campaign and assessing the effectiveness of governor-led elimination programmes.
	Additionally, the Department for International Development is spending 130 million over the next three years on strengthening and diversifying legal rural livelihoods through the Afghan Government's National Programmes. MCN and the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development are also working to establish a database of legal rural livelihoods implementation across all provinces in order to improve the co-ordination and targeting of assistance.

Afghanistan

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Adam Price), of 30 March 2006,  Official Report, column 1127W, on Afghanistan, what factors the UK Government took into account in deciding that legal cultivation of opium for legitimate medicinal export was not viable.

Kim Howells: The UK supports and agrees with the Government of Afghanistan's position that licensing opium cultivation in Afghanistan for medical export is not a realistic solution to the problems of the opium economy in Afghanistan. Legalisation risks a high level of diversion of licit opium into illegal channels and, by sending out a mixed message to farmers, threatens to undermine the effectiveness of the Government of Afghanistan's counter narcotics campaign. There are no central Government and law enforcement mechanisms in place to set up and administer such a proposal and the trafficker would be free to continue to exploit the illicit market.
	There has also been no systematic market testing throughout the world to calculate demand for additional morphine-based medicines and no evidence to show that Afghan opium would be price competitive in a global market place.
	The UK is supporting the Government of Afghanistan to tackle the drugs problem through a balanced and comprehensive strategy involving strengthening the rule of law and providing alternative livelihoods for poppy farmers.

Afghanistan

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether  (a) she and  (b) officials in her Department have received representations regarding a UN report on human rights abuses in Afghanistan by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: An Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report on human rights abuses in Afghanistan was completed in January 2005, but has not been published. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not received representations about the report.
	We continue to work closely with the OHCHR, the Afghan Government, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and international partners to improve respect for human rights in Afghanistan, to strengthen capacity building, and to build on the Afghan Government's many achievements since the fall of the Taliban regime.

Afghanistan

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whose responsibility it is to reduce the area contaminated by mines and exploded ordnance in Afghanistan in accordance with the commitments laid out in the Afghanistan Compact; and what progress has been made.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 6 July 2006
	The United Nations Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan currently has de facto responsibility, on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan, for the planning, management and oversight of the Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan (MAPA). Progress continues to be made towards meeting the benchmarks laid out in the Afghanistan Compact. During financial year 2005-06, MAPA decreased the number of highly effected communities by almost 42 per cent. During this period, MAPA cleared 136,371,592 square metres of contaminated land, releasing 19 per cent. of the mine and unexploded ordnance area. It is estimated that 716 square kilometres of land was still contaminated by the end of the financial year.
	The UK is playing its part. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Department for International Development/Ministry of Defence Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) continues to provide funding to UN and non-governmental organisations weapons and ammunition destruction programmes in Afghanistan. In financial year 2005-06, the GCPP contributed over 2 million to such projects.

Antarctic

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her policy is in respect of tourism in the Antarctic.

Geoff Hoon: The Antarctic Treaty preserves Antarctica for peace and science. Within this framework, however, tourism is a legitimate activity, providing it is undertaken safely and in line with the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty 1991.
	Nevertheless, tourism activities continue to increase in the Antarctic Treaty Area and the UK has taken a leading role within the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings to ensure that safety and environmental concerns continue to be addressed. This has included, for example, securing agreement to require all tourism activities to have detailed search and rescue, insurance and contingency plans.
	The vast majority of Antarctic tourism takes place under the self-regulatory framework established by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). IAATO sets stringent environmental standards for Antarctic tourism operators and manages the annual tourism traffic to Antarctica. The UK supports this self-regulatory framework, for example by restricting access to UK Historic Sites and Bases to IAATO operators, and works with IAATO to further enhance the management of Antarctic tourism.

Arms Trade Treaty

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress was made towards achieving an international arms trade Treaty at the UN Review Conference on Small Arms in June; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government fully supports the initiative for a legally binding International Arms Trade Treaty to cover the trade in all conventional arms. We are leading the way in building the international consensus needed to secure agreement to the start of a formal process toward a treaty at the UN General Assembly this autumn. The UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons only covers a specific category of conventional arms and is part of a process that is politically, not legally binding. The Review Conference was not the right forum to progress the treaty initiative. However, we were pleased to see that a range of countries used the meeting as an opportunity to express support for work towards a treaty.

Burma

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made by her Department to Total Oil on their investments in Burma.

Margaret Beckett: We have made no recent representations to Total Oil about their investments in Burma.

Burma

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between her Department and Rolls-Royce on its contracts with companies owned and controlled by the Government of Burma.

Margaret Beckett: We have recently discussed this with Rolls-Royce. We have no reason to believe that these contracts breach the EU Common Position on Burma.

Burma

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the Governments of  (a) China and  (b) Russia on the discussion of Burma at the UN Security Council; and what the outcome was of those discussions.

Margaret Beckett: The Chinese and Russian Governments currently do not support a discussion and resolution on Burma at the UN Security Council. We shall continue to encourage all Security Council members to support action to persuade the Burmese regime to promote political, economic and social development.
	My right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, raised the situation in Burma with the Chinese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs on 20 June and asked that China support a Security Council debate and resolution on Burma and encourage the Burmese Government to meet their human rights responsibilities. He also raised Burma with the Chinese ambassador on 21 June. Additionally, in his meeting of 13 June with the Chairman of the UK Friendship Group of the China National People's Congress, my right hon. Friend encouraged Chinese engagement to help resolve international issues. I have not made representations to the Governments of China and Russia regarding Burma.
	There have also been discussions at official level with the Chinese and Russian Governments.

Burma

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the prospects for securing UN Security Council  (a) debate and  (b) a resolution on Burma.

Margaret Beckett: It is too early to make an assessment of the prospects for securing a UN Security Council debate or resolution on Burma. The Chinese and Russian Governments do not support such a debate or resolution. We shall continue to work with all Security Council members to support action to persuade the Burmese regime to promote political, economic and social development.

Burma

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information the Government have received on whether North Korea  (a) is training Burmese nationals in nuclear technology and  (b) has transferred missile technology to Burma.

Kim Howells: The Government are aware of media reports from 2002-03 which alleged possible clandestine assistance from North Korea to Burma's military in the construction of a nuclear reactor. As a party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, Burma has undertaken not to seek nuclear weapons, but has the right to pursue peaceful nuclear technology. Russia is assisting Burma, through the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Technical Co-operation Organisation, to acquire a research reactor. This reactor would be under IAEA safeguards.
	There were also reports, in 2004, that North Korea had offered surface-to-surface missiles to Burma.
	The Government have received no specific information on either of these issues or on the training of Burmese nationals in nuclear technology.

Burma

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports the Government have received on the regime in Burma sending soldiers to Russia for military and nuclear technology training.

Ian McCartney: Burma's Deputy Foreign Minister U Khin Maung Win acknowledged in January 2002 that Burma had received a proposal from Russia to build a nuclear research reactor. Burma has also publicly noted that it continues to send trainees to Russia. We understand that there are currently over 1,000 students, the vast majority of them from the military: some of these are studying nuclear technology. We have no information on current levels of military co-operation between Russia and Burma.

Burma

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports the Government have received relating to uranium exported by Burma to Russia, China and North Korea being re-exported to other countries.

Kim Howells: We are not aware of any exports of uranium from Burma. Burma maintains that its limited uranium production is for domestic research into the peaceful use of nuclear power.

Chad

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent actions of Janjaweed militias in Chad; and what representations she has made to the Government of Chad about protecting refugees.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 6 July 2006
	We are aware that Chadian rebels and Darfur militia continue to mount cross-border attacks into Eastern Chad from Darfur, which has led to the displacement of 50,000 Chadians. We are also aware of reports of Darfur rebels continuing to be supported by Chad. We are pressing the Government of Sudan to neutralise and disarm the Janjaweed and expel foreign fighters from Darfur as soon as possible, as required under the Darfur Peace Agreement. We are also pressing both Governments to fulfil their obligations under the Tripoli Agreement.
	While in Chad leading a UN Security Council delegation in early June, our Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York raised the refugee camps with President Deby and encouraged him to ensure their full protection.

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will list in date order  (a) Green and  (b) White Papers produced by her Department since October 2005.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has produced the following non-treaty Command Papers since October 2005:
	Global Opportunities Fund, Annual Report 2004/05, Cm 6665, 12 October 2005;
	Annual Performance Report 2005, Cm 6709, 14 December 2005;
	52 Annual Report of the Marshall Aid Commission, Year Ending 30 September 2005, Cm 6716, 19 January 2006;
	Prospects for the EU in 2005 and the retrospective of the UK's Presidency of the EU, 1 July to 31 December 2005, Cm 6735, 31 January 2006;
	Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong, JulyDecember 2005, Cm 6751, 1 March 2006;
	Fiftieth Annual Report of the Foreign Compensation Commission for the Financial Year Ended 31 March 2005, Cm 6778, 4 May 2006;
	Active Diplomacy for a Changing World, the UK's International Priorities, Cm 6762, 28 March 2006;
	First Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Session 2005-06, Annual Report on Human Rights 2005, Response of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Cm 6774, 2 May 2006;
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Departmental Report 1 April 200531 March 2006, Cm 6823, 8 May 2006;
	Second Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Session 2005/06, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Report 2004-05, Response of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Cm 6791, 22 May 2006; and
	Third Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Session 2005/06, Public Diplomacy, Response of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Cm 6840, 7 June 2006.

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what draft Bills have been produced by her Department since October 2005; how many were  (a) examined and  (b) are planned to be examined by (i) a departmental Select Committee and (ii) a Joint Committee; which draft Bills are still to be produced by her Department; when each is expected to be published; how many clauses each has; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not produced any draft Bills since October 2005.
	Announcements on future legislation and future draft legislation which will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny will be indicated in Her Majesty the Queen's Speech.

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her practice is regarding meeting, discussing and taking into account the views and opinions of  (a) private individuals and  (b) representatives of organisations when drawing up and framing legislation to be introduced by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is not a Department with a heavy legislative programme. Subject to our international obligations, our practice is to seek a full range of views when drawing up and framing legislation. Formal and informal consultation is a key part of the policy making process. The FCO holds regular meetings with representatives of the principal stakeholder groups for our policy areas and with relevant experts. Organisations and individuals can also contribute to the Department's formal consultations, which abide by the Code of Conduct on Consultation. Known stakeholders are alerted to the fact that a formal consultation is taking place. As required by the code, the Department gives feedback on the response received and on how the consultation process influenced the policy decision.
	Consultation documents inviting comment are circulated through direct contact with appropriate organisations and published on the FCO website:
	http://vvww.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPagec=Pagecid=1017170970560

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will list the Deposited Papers placed in the Library by her Department since 2000; and when they were published.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has placed 610 items in the Library of the House since 2000. The Library keeps a list of the documents including their date of deposit which I will forward to the hon. Member.

Detainees (Inter-state Transfers)

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the Council of Europe's report on alleged secret detentions and unlawful inter-state transfers of detainees involving Council of Europe member states; and what response she has made to the findings of the report at paragraph 10.5 in relation to the case of Benyam Mohammed Al Habashi.

Kim Howells: Dick Marty's report of 7 June entitled Alleged secret detentions and unlawful inter-state transfers involving Council of Europe Member States contains no new evidence in respect of the UK.
	In the case of Benyam Mohammed Al Habashi, he was interviewed once by a member of the UK Security Services in Karachi in 2002, but the Security Services had no role in his capture in or transfer from Pakistan.

Drugs

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime regarding drug production and trafficking in  (a) Pakistan and  (b) Iran; and what assessment she has made of the effects of the level of production on the National Drugs Control Strategy in Afghanistan.

Ian McCartney: Pakistan and Iran are major drug trafficking transit countries to Europe. Production in these countries is much less significant than in Afghanistan. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drugs Report of 2006 quotes 2,400 hectares of opium cultivated in Pakistan compared to 104,000 in Afghanistan in 2005. Iran cultivation figures do not feature. Regional co-operation is, however, an important element of the Government of Afghanistan's National Drug Control Strategy and efforts are being made to improve information sharing and develop closer working relationships with the neighbours with particular respect to border control, law enforcement and judicial co-operation. This is vital in order to crack down on drug trafficking and ensure that cultivation does not move across Afghanistan's borders into neighbouring countries. In 2005 the UK funded 1.55 million of regional projects, of which 618,000 was contributed to the UNODC Iran integrated border management project on the Iran/Afghan border. In 2006 we are funding 1 million of regional projects of which 400,000 is allocated to UNODC regional precursor control projects.
	The UK has regular dialogue with the UNODC on drug trafficking in Pakistan and Iran. This is undertaken both on a multilateral and bilateral level. On the multilateral level, the UK is a strong supporter of the UNODC-managed Paris Pact process, a mechanism to co-ordinate action by all countries affected by the Afghan opiate trade, and plays a high profile role in these meetings. This provides an opportunity to work with priority transit countries to combat the trafficking of heroin from Afghanistan to Europe. At the Islamabad and Tehran Paris Pact meetings in March and September 2005 respectively, the UK pressed both UNODC and the international donor community to support our regional counter narcotics priorities. These are to develop operational cross border liaison, regional precursor control, and law enforcement training and equipment for Pakistan, Iran and Central Asian Republics bordering Afghanistan.
	On the bilateral level, UNODC recognise that UK funding in support of UNODC programmes in Iran and Pakistan has been very helpful in allowing us jointly to address a range of counter narcotics issues. Our Missions in Tehran and Islamabad enjoy good relations and regular dialogue with the local UNODC offices. The UK has also played an active role in the development of a UNODC regional strategy for the countries along Afghan drug-trafficking routes.

Drugs

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate  (a) she and  (b) the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has made of the size of the Afghan poppy crop in 2006.

Kim Howells: It is too early to assess overall levels of cultivation in 2006, but a significant increase seems likely following last year's 21 per cent. fall. This is worrying and due in part to a substantial increase in planting in the more lawless south, including Helmand Province. We will know this year's cultivation figures when the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime publishes its annual opium poppy survey in the autumn. There are some signs, however, that last year's reductions are likely to be sustained in areas where access to governance, security and development has improved. Sustainable drug elimination strategies take time, particularly when the challenges are as severe as they are in Afghanistan. The UK believes that the approach set out in the Government of Afghanistan's newly updated National Drug Control Strategy represents the best means of tackling the problem.

EU Veto

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which areas the UK's veto in EU matters has been relinquished by means other than a treaty since 1997.

Geoff Hoon: Outside the amendment of the EU Treaties, there are four passerelle provisions in the current treaties which allow changes from unanimity in voting rules. They are article 42, treaty on European Union, and articles 67(2), 137(2) and 175(2), treaty establishing the European Community. Only the passerelle provision in article 67(2) has been activated to change the voting in certain areas of title IV from unanimity to co-decision and qualified majority voting. But it is for the UK to decide on a case by case basis whether or not it wishes to opt in to any measure adopted in such an area, as set out in the protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the treaty of Amsterdam.

Foreign Affairs Committee

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2006,  Official Report, column 352W, on the Foreign Affairs Committee, what estimate she has made of the cost of answering the question; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: We did not make a precise estimate of the cost of answering the hon. Member's question. The answer I gave on 27 June 2006, Official  Report, column 352W, was based on the fact that it was evident that to provide the information in the form requested would exceed the currently agreed threshold for answering hon. Members' written questions.

Guantanamo Bay

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she plans to take action in response to the recent British Medical Association motion calling on the Government to send a team of physicians to Guantanamo Bay to seek unfettered access to detainees.

Kim Howells: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been visiting detainees held at Guantanamo Bay since January 2002. Medical personnel are included in each ICRC visiting team. We do not see the case at the moment for a visit by a specifically British team, as suggested by the British Medical Association.

Human Cloning

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the United Kingdom voted against the declaration on human cloning at the United Nations General Assembly; which countries  (a) voted in favour,  (b) voted against and  (c) abstained on the resolution; if she will place in the Library copies of the United Kingdom delegate's voting instructions on this resolution; what discussions she had with the United States delegation at the United Nations about this resolution; whom she consulted before opposing this resolution; what representations she received from (i) individuals and (ii) organisations in support of the resolution; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The United Nations Declaration on Human Cloning is non-binding and has no legal status, but the UK voted against it because it calls on states to prohibit all forms of human cloning. This is totally unacceptable to the Government, who strongly supports stem cell research, including embryonic stem cell research involving the use of cloning technology. The Government's position on the declaration was broadly supported in the House during an adjournment debate on stem cell research on 7 March 2005,  Official Report, columns 1357-70, the evening before the adoption of the declaration.
	The declaration was adopted by a recorded vote of 84 in favour to 34 against, with 37 abstentions, as follows:
	 In favour:
	Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cote d'lvoire, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Morocco, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Suriname, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uzbekistan, Zambia.
	 Against:
	Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Iceland, India, Jamaica, Japan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom.
	 Abstain:
	Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
	The UK delegation voted against the declaration in accordance with instructions from the Government, which covered a range of options for possible votes on different draft resolutions or motions. Discussions took place with various UN Member States, including the US. We consulted a range of Departments with an interest in the issue, including the Department of Health. We received representations in support of and against the declaration from several interested non-governmental organisations and individuals.

India

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the Indian Government calling for Dalit Christians to be enumerated among the scheduled castes; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Issues relating to scheduled castes are, of course, a matter for the Indian Government to take forward. However, our High Commission in New Delhi has previously raised this issue with the appropriate Indian authorities in response to legitimate UK public and parliamentary interest.
	We are aware from media reports that a petition was filed in February 2005 by the Centre for Public Interest with the Indian Supreme Court to argue that the provision to exclude Dalits who convert to Christianity and Islam from the scheduled castes is unconstitutional. This case is now due to be heard during July. We are awaiting the court's decision before deciding the nature of any further representations. Our high commission in New Delhi is continuing to monitor the situation closely.

India

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Indian Government concerning the anti-conversion legislation enacted in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chattisgurh, Gujarat and Rajasthan states; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Issues relating to anti-conversion legislation are, of course, internal matters for the Indian authorities to take forward. However, officials from our High Commission in New Delhi have previously raised this with the appropriate Indian authorities in response to legitimate UK public and parliamentary interest, with specific reference to the State of Rajasthan. This was raised when they called on the Chair of the National Commission for Minorities in April and the Ministry of Minorities Affairs in June.
	Although the Rajasthan legislative assembly approved the Freedom of Religion Bill in April, we understand that the State Governor refused to sign the Bill when it was presented to her on 19 May and when it was re-sent to her on 13 June.
	To date, nobody has raised with us specific cases of abuse, where anti-conversion legislation already in place has been used to prevent someone from willingly changing their religion. However, we and EU partners will continue to follow closely developments in states where this legislation already exists.

Iran

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Iran has provided a timetable for the resolution of outstanding issues relating to its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, as indicated in the Director General's report on the Implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran of 8 June 2006.

Margaret Beckett: As far as we are aware, Iran has provided no such timetable to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking towards ensuring that Iran's uranium enrichment programme does not progress to a stage whereby it will have produced enough highly enriched uranium to create a nuclear device.

Kim Howells: We remain deeply concerned that, despite repeated requests by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors and the United Nations Security Council, Iran is continuing uranium enrichment related and reprocessing activities that will enable it to develop the capability to produce fissile material suitable for use in nuclear weapons. In addition, we are concerned that, as the IAEA Director General, Dr. Mohammed El-Baradei, describes in his latest report, Iran is not co-operating fully with the IAEA and there are still many outstanding issues that Iran needs to resolve to the IAEA's satisfaction.
	On 1 June, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and her French, German, US, Russian and Chinese colleagues and Javier Solana, EU High Representative, agreed to propose a way forward that would give Iran everything it needs to develop a modern civil nuclear power industry and bring Iran far-reaching political and economic benefits, while meeting international concerns. To create conditions for talks to resume, Iran should reinstate its suspension of enrichment related and reprocessing activities, as required by the IAEA Board; we would then suspend action in the Security Council. We hope that Iran will take the positive path offered. Ministers agreed on 1 June that if Iran decides not to engage in negotiation, further action will be necessary in the Security Council.

Iraq

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with  (a) her (i) Iraqi, (ii) US and (iii) EU counterparts and  (b) the UN on the establishment of a UN International Compact to support the development of a framework for increased international assistance to Iraq; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 6 July 2006
	The Prime Minister of Iraq has written to the UK and other international partners including the UN, EC, US requesting support for an International Compact. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary attended the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 12 June where the Iraqi Foreign Minister discussed with EU Foreign Ministers the need for increased international engagement with Iraq through a compact. At the UN on 19 June the Iraqi Foreign Minister asked for support to create an International Compact for Iraq and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary indicated the UK would help with the Compact when she saw him as he returned from New York. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has raised the Compact with G8 Foreign Ministers, including the US, at their recent meeting and called on them to support the Compact as Iraqi and UN ideas emerge. This was reflected in the supportive G8 final statement of 29 June. The full text of this statement can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth website at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/G8FMChairmanStatememt290606.pdf.
	We support wider international engagement in Iraq through the Compact and urge the international community to do the same. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has confirmed our commitment to this process.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications under the Geneva Conventions of the targeting by Israel of civilian facilities and infrastructure in Gaza during the military incursions commenced by Israel on 27 June 2006; and what representations she has made to the Government of Israel on the subject.

Kim Howells: We are very concerned at the increased tension between Israel and the Palestinians. We are opposed to the targeting of civilian facilities and call upon Israel to respect international law and, in particular, the requirement of proportionality and the duty to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian casualties. We continue to urge both parties to act with restraint and end the current cycle of violence, which only make the prospect of a negotiated, peaceful resolution more distant.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the current situation with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni and Palestinian President Abbas on 6 July. On 29 June, the Defence Attach in Tel Aviv raised our concerns about the loss of electricity and water supplies with the Israel Defence Force.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she is making to the Government of Israel to persuade them to secure the disarmament of unofficial Israeli militia groups of settlers; and on what occasion the last representations were made.

Kim Howells: We continue to call upon Israel to take action calling for an immediate end to violence against Palestinians everywhere.
	We will continue to make representations to the Israeli Government about settler violence.

Japan

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Japanese Government in the last six months concerning the imprisoned UK citizen, Nick Baker.

Ian McCartney: Consular officials from our embassy in Tokyo continue to raise Nick Baker's case with the Japanese authorities as appropriate; most recently with the Ministry of Justice on 17 May 2006. Consular officials have also raised various concerns about Mr. Baker's welfare with the prison authorities.
	In support of Mr. Baker's transfer request, we are working with the Japanese authorities to get Mr. Baker transferred to a British prison as soon as possible.

Judicial Review

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions an  (a) individual and  (b) organisation has applied for a judicial review of decisions of her Department in each year since 1997; and what the outcome was of each case where proceedings have been completed.

Margaret Beckett: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Krakow Proliferation Security Initiative

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the British objectives were for the High Level Political Meeting of the Krakow Proliferation Security Initiative; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The UK had three main objectives for the High Level Political Meeting of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), all of which were met. First, we strengthened further the initiative through endorsement of the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles by more countries. We were pleased to welcome around a dozen states to their first PSI meeting, following a global lobbying campaign by the UK and other PSI partners. Secondly, we shared information, best practice and lessons learned from previous PSI activities. This was achieved through a series of presentations and panel discussions on topics such as exercise planning, legal considerations and industry outreach. Thirdly, we secured agreement on the strategic direction of the initiative, in particular emphasising the importance of ensuring all PSI participating states can achieve the full benefits of involvement in the initiative.

Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Bills sponsored by her Department are still planned to be introduced during the current Session; and when, and into which House, each will be introduced.

Margaret Beckett: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no plans to introduce further Bills during the current Session.

Lord's Resistance Army

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the governments of  (a) Uganda,  (b) Sudan and  (c) the Democratic Republic of Congo have asked for British Government support in serving International Criminal Court warrants on the leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 6 July 2006
	The Government have received no such requests for assistance.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him today (UIN 82452) in which I noted that responsibility to effect the arrest warrants lies in the first instance with the states on whose territory the five Liberation Resistance Army commanders are believed to be, in this case Uganda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
	The UK is a strong supporter, in principle and in practice, of the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. We will continue to maintain political pressure on all parties to provide full co-operation to the ICC. We have called on all those involved to facilitate the arrest of the individuals subject to ICC warrants.

Lord's Resistance Army

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the steps taken by the International Criminal Court to try to arrest the leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 5 July 2006
	The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants for the arrest of five Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) commanders, including Joseph Kony, in October 2005. Responsibility to effect the arrest warrants lies in the first instance with the states on whose territory the five LRA commanders are believed to be, in this case Uganda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
	The UK is a strong supporter of the work of the ICC and its efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. We will continue to maintain political pressure on all parties to provide full co-operation to the ICC. We have called on all those involved to facilitate the arrest of the individuals subject to ICC warrants.
	Whilst we are disappointed that the arrest warrants have not yet been effected, we do not underestimate the difficulties in doing so. On 23 January, the UN force in DRC conducted an operation in Garamba National Park in north-eastern DRC aimed at tackling the LRA contingent based there. This operation was unsuccessful and tragically eight Guatemalan peace-keepers lost their lives in that endeavour.
	The ICC remains actively supportive of efforts to make the arrests. On 28 June the Chief Prosecutor, Ocampo, made a statement guaranteeing the indictees safe passage to The Hague and due process in the court.

Majority Voting

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the EU Commission's proposal to introduce majority voting on criminal justice and police co-operation contained in the paper 'Implementing The Hague Programme: the way forward', would need to be ratified in the UK Parliament.

Geoff Hoon: We are giving careful consideration to the proposals contained in the Commission Communication on 'Implementing The Hague Programme: the way forward' and will submit an Explanatory Memorandum to Parliament in due course.
	Article 42 of the Treaty on European Unionthe passerelleallows for areas governed by Title VI (Third Pillar) to be transferred to Title IV (First Pillar) by unanimous Council decision. This means that the UK has a veto on any change in the decision-making procedure in this area.
	Should all member states, including the UK, agree to the change, Article 42 provides that the decision would be recommended to member states for adoption
	in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the Maoist rebels' commitment to a ceasefire in Nepal.

Kim Howells: The Maoists announced a three month ceasefire in April 2006, which the Government of Nepal subsequently reciprocated. Following peace talks with the Government, the Maoists subsequently agreed a code of conduct to govern the ceasefire and terms of reference for a ceasefire monitoring committee. And during talks on 16 June 2006 Prime Minister Koirala and Maoist Leader Prachanda agreed to request United Nations assistance in arms management.
	The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported some violations of the code of conduct by the Maoists. While we welcome the commitment of both sides to peace negotiations and a ceasefire, we believe a third party will need to monitor implementation and to support the work of the Nepalese ceasefire monitoring committee.

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are willing to take to support the ceasefire between Maoist rebels and the Government in Nepal.

Kim Howells: A permanent and verifiable ceasefire between the Maoists and Nepalese army is necessary to underpin a comprehensive peace process. The UK is ready to assist the Government of Nepal in supporting a peace process and ceasefire. However, it is for the Government of Nepal first to request help from the UN or any other third party to facilitate this process.

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has received on maintaining a peaceful transition in Nepal to a functioning democracy; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: On 20 June my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, met the Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, K.P. Sharma Oli, at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. They discussed the challenges ahead following the democratic transition in Nepal.
	Foreign Minister Oli requested UK financial and technical assistance to support speedy reconstruction efforts and transition to a stable multi-party democracy. He also requested UK assistance in support of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration efforts. We are pursuing these requests in consultation with the Government of Nepal and our international partners.

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are willing to take to ensure Maoist rebels in Nepal give up violence before they enter a transitional Government.

Kim Howells: The only way for the Maoists to gain acceptance as a legitimate political actor is for them to take concrete steps towards a permanent end to the use of violence for political ends. We therefore support the Government of Nepal's position that an effective arms management arrangement is a precondition for the formation of an interim Government. We will also urge strongly that, in advance of elections to a Constituent Assembly, the Maoists must make a credible commitment to put their arms verifiably beyond use.

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are  (a) taking and  (b) willing to take to ensure that weapons are confiscated from Maoist rebels in Nepal, in accordance with the United Nations agreement.

Kim Howells: The Maoists and the governing Seven Party Alliance agreed on 16 June to request United Nations help in the monitoring and management of arms. We understand a formal request to the United Nations has now been made. The United Kingdom stands ready to assist in any future arms management arrangement if so requested by the United Nations.

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government plan towards ensuring that parliamentary elections in Nepal are  (a) free and fair and  (b) subject to international observation.

Kim Howells: For parliamentary elections in Nepal to be credible, they would need to take place in the context of an overall peace process and within a political and security climate which attracts all parties to put up candidates for free and fair polls. It will therefore be necessary for both the Nepalese army and the Maoists to be subject to satisfactory arms management during the interim period.
	We will continue to offer our support to the Government of Nepal for the challenges ahead and will consider volunteering election monitors as part of any internationally co-ordinated effort under the United Nations, or through the European Union.

Non-proliferation Programmes

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds are spent by the EU on non-proliferation programmes; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: Under the 'Common Foreign and Security Policy' budget strand for 'Non Proliferation and Disarmament' the EU spent 9.1 million on non-proliferation projects in 2005. 3 million has been committed for spend in the 2006 budget.
	Under the 'crisis management and global threats to security' budget strand 3 million was spent in 2005 and 3.0 million has been committed for 2006 for 'actions in the area of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction'.
	The Commission has, in fact, spent significantly more in the same period on non-proliferation. However, final figures are as yet unavailable as sums on other schedules have not yet been confirmed. My officials will write to the right hon. Member, providing further details, when those become available.

Nuclear Fuel (Multilateral Agreement)

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposal the Government have made regarding a concept for a multilateral mechanism for reliable access to nuclear fuel, as put forward to the International Atomic Energy Agency; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The UK co-sponsored a concept paper presented at the last International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors' meeting, 12 to 15 June 2006, that outlined a mechanism to provide reliable access to nuclear fuel. Although the exact details are restricted to Governments represented on the IAEA Board of Governors, the paper sets out a framework for a multi-tiered set of measures to establish basic assurances involving supplier and recipient states, with commercial back-up arrangements, and regarding reserves of enriched uranium. The paper will be the subject of further discussion during a special event to be held in the margins of the IAEA General Conference in September. Details of this special event can be found at the following website: http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Meetings/Announcements. asp?ConflD=147.

Nuclear Missiles

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the relationship between North Korea and Iran, with regard to  (a) ballistic missile sharing technology,  (b) the Taep'o-dong two missile programme and  (c) the Shahab-5/Kosar and Shahab-six missile programme.

Kim Howells: The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) has a history of exporting ballistic missiles, ballistic missile components and related technology to Iran. This collaboration is disturbing and further reinforces international concerns about the real intentions of Iran's nuclear programme.
	The longest range ballistic missile that Iran has in service is the Shahab-3. There are persistent, credible, media reports that Iran is seeking to acquire longer range ballistic missiles with help from the DPRK, but Iran has not confirmed this.

Palestine

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she is making to the Palestinian Authority to persuade them to secure the disarmament of unofficial Palestinian militia groups; and on what occasions the last representations were made.

Kim Howells: We continue to call for the disarmament of Palestinian militia groups. Phase I of the Roadmap states that the Palestinians must declare an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism and undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest, disrupt, and restrain individuals and groups conducting and planning violent attacks. We continue to work with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to improve security in the West Bank and Gaza.
	We will continue to make representations on this issue.

Passerelle Clauses

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the use to date of passerelle clauses to incorporate EU legislation into UK law.

Geoff Hoon: A passerelle provision is one which allows for existing voting rules to be changed without treaty amendment. There are four passerelle provisions in the EU treaties. They are article 42 in the treaty on European Union (on police and judicial co-operation) and articles 67(2) (immigration and asylum), 137(2) (social policy matters) and 175(2) (environmental policy matters) in the European Community treaty. Only the passerelle provision in article 67(2) has been activated. The UK opted into Council Decision 2004/927 which changed certain areas in Title IV, European Community treaty, from unanimity to co-decision and Qualified Majority Voting. Any measure adopted in these areas only applies to the UK if the UK opts into it under its opt-in protocol, the protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the treaty of Amsterdam.

Sri Lanka

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom plans to take action in the United Nations in relation to the recent terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka.

Ian McCartney: There is as yet no agreement in the UN Security Council that the situation in Sri Lanka represents a threat to international peace and security. We are focusing our efforts on the peace process facilitated by the Government of Norway. We also actively contribute to the EU's input in its role as one of the Tokyo co-chairs. Our view is that dialogue is the only way to achieve a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Sri Lanka. All sides need to exercise restraint and to act in a constructive way. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (Dr. Howells), made a statement emphasising this on 15 June. This is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPagec=Pagecid=1007029391638a=KArticleaid=1150379181467.

Sudan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in restricting the flow of  (a) arms and ammunition and  (b) equipment to (i) the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, (ii) the Justice and Equality Movement in Sudan and (iii) the Janjaweed militia; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: There is a UN arms embargo for Darfur and an EU Arms embargo for the whole of Sudan. The UK stringently follows both of these. But there is evidence, including in the recent report prepared by the UN Panel of Experts for Sudan, that the UN arms embargo is being breached by all sides. We take these reports seriously and are pressing for an extension of the UN arms embargo to cover the whole of Sudan.

Sudan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Sudanese Government on the reported operations in Darfur of Chadian armed groups supported by Khartoum.

Margaret Beckett: We are aware that Chadian rebels and Darfur militia are continuing to mount cross-border attacks into Eastern Chad from Darfur, which has led to the displacement of 50,000 Chadians. At the same time, there are reports of Darfur rebels continuing to be supported by Chad. We are urging both Governments to restore calm to the region without the use of violence. We are also pressing the Government of Sudan to fulfil their obligations under the Darfur Peace Agreement, which includes disarming and expelling foreign fighters, including Chadian rebel groups, as soon as possible.

Sudan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Sudanese Government on implementation of the February 2006 Tripoli Agreement.

Margaret Beckett: My officials in Sudan have frequently discussed the tensions along the border with Chad with the Government of Sudan. We have also raised this in Tripoli with the Libyan Government. We have been urging all parties to reduce tensions along the border between Sudan and Chad and to seek to settle their differences through peaceful means. The EU issued a statement on 13 February welcoming the Tripoli Agreement and appealing to both parties to honour the agreement, in particular their commitment to refrain from hosting rebel forces of the other party on their respective territories. The full text of the statement can be found on the following website: http://www.consiliuni.europa.eu/ue.Docs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/enycfsp/88391.pdf.

Sudan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the Sudanese Government's progress in fulfilling their commitments to disarm the Janjaweed militias in Sudan; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: On Friday 23 June, the Government of Sudan publicly began disarming a small group of Janjaweed in South Darfur. We welcome this step, and call on the Government to continue this work and to present a plan for neutralising and disarming all the Janjaweed/armed militias, which they are required to do under the Darfur Peace Agreement.

Sudan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her NATO counterparts regarding NATO's potential involvement in peacekeeping in Darfur; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: I have not discussed with my NATO counterparts NATO's potential involvement in peacekeeping in Darfur. NATO is providing assistance with strategic airlift, training and capacity building in support of the African Union's (AU) Mission in Darfur. Following a request from the AU it is considering further possible assistance in the areas of capacity building and training. It is not considering a peacekeeping role in Darfur.

Sudan

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the Janjaweed militia operating in Eastern Chad; and what implications such activity has for British policy towards the Sudanese Government.

Ian McCartney: There are indications that some Janjaweed/Arab militia groups are now operating in the border area inside Eastern Chad, while others continue to mount attacks from inside Darfur. We are concerned for the safety and security of the estimated 50,000 Chadians displaced as a result of attacks and violence in the east of the country, and for the 200,000 refugees from Darilir now sheltering in camps in Eastern Chad. The UK provided 5 million to the humanitarian response in Chad last year and is providing an additional 4 million this year. We continue to monitor the situation closely.
	We are pressing the Government of Sudan to disarm the Janjaweed in accordance with their international obligations as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1556 and the Darfur Peace Agreement.

Sudan

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are being taken to ensure that all parties with claims in the Sudanese North-South and Darfur disputes are part of the relevant conflict resolution negotiations.

Ian McCartney: We support a fully inclusive North-South political process. We support the South-South Dialogue established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
	The Darfur Peace Agreement, signed on 5 May 2006, and the Declaration of Principles, agreed on 5 July 2005, state that there will be a Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation to secure the support of the people of Darfur to the agreement. We fully support this initiative.
	Our embassy in Khartoum meets regularly with representatives of Northern and Southern opposition parties and rebel movements from Darfur and the East of Chad.

Sudan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Sudanese Government on a United Nations peacekeeping force to be deployed in Sudan.

Ian McCartney: After extensive international lobbying, the Government of Sudan agreed to allow a UN Technical Assistance Mission to visit Sudan to begin planning for the deployment of a UN force for Darfur. However, they have not yet endorsed the deployment of a UN force for Darfur. We and other international partners will continue to lobby them to do so.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the decision of the African Union to keep troops in Darfur until the end of 2006.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 6 July 2006
	The African Union (AU) has made no such decision. In its Communiqu of 27 June, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) reaffirmed its decisions of 10 March and 15 May 2006 on ending the mandate of the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) by 30 September 2006 and on the transition from AMIS to a UN peacekeeping operation. However, the Chairperson of the AU Commission's report of the same date also states that, in view of the yet inconclusive engagement with the Government of Sudan on the issue of a transition to the UN, and in view of the indications from the UN under the circumstances they will not be able to take over the peace support operations before the end of the year, it was deemed prudent to present the estimates of the financial requirements to cover the period up to 31st December 2006. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, attended the AU Summit on 1-2 July in Banjul and urged an early hand-over from AMIS to the UN.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on militia attacks in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 6 July 2006
	We condemn any attacks by armed militias or other forces in Darfur. We particularly condemn the recent militia attacks in Hamra al-Shaikh, in Northern Kordofan province, which risk extension of violence beyond the borders of Darfur. We call on those parties to the conflict in Darfur who have not yet signed the Darfur Peace Agreement to do so and on all parties to refrain from violence and to implement the Darfur Peace Agreement urgently and in full.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the letter sent by representatives of the Beja community, Sudan to the Secretary-General of the UN seeking humanitarian help.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 6 July 2006
	On 9 June, the Beja Congress, a political organisation representing the Beja tribe of Eastern Sudan, sent a letter to Kofi Annan. They highlighted the poor humanitarian situation of the Beja, as recently reported by the International Red Cross. They appealed to Kofi Annan and to the international community to exert pressure on the Government of Sudan to ensure the success of the talks between the Government of Sudan and the Eastern Front.
	We welcome the news that these talks will begin in Asmara on 17 July. We call on all sides to negotiate in good faith towards a rapid and successful conclusion. We hope this will lead to a comprehensive and lasting peace opening the way to investment and development in the region.
	The UK, through the Department for International Development, bilaterally supports a humanitarian programme in the East of Sudan delivered by the Association of Charitable Foundations and Oxfam. We continue to press the Government of Sudan to allow full and unimpeded humanitarian access in the East of the country.

Sudan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress of the International Criminal Court investigations on Darfur.

Margaret Beckett: The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, gave his latest report to the UN Security Council on 14 June, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1593, which referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC. The report set out evidence of large-scale massacres, targeting of civilians and systematic rape occurring in Darfur. It also said the ICC would now move to complete its investigations of those individuals with greatest responsibility for the most serious crimes in Darfur. A full copy of this report is on the ICC website at:http://www.icc-cpi.int/cases/Darfur/s()205/s0205_ un.html.
	There must be no impunity for those who have committed abuses of human rights in Darfur. Those responsible must be brought to justice. The UK Government will continue to support the ICC as it takes forward its investigation and to maintain pressure on all parties, including the Government of Sudan, to provide full co-operation in response to any ICC request.

Sudan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the  (a) role and  (b) objectives of the UK will be in the forthcoming donors conference for UN peacekeeping in Darfur.

Margaret Beckett: The African Union (AU) are planning a donors' conference on 18 July in Brussels. This is an opportunity for donors to pledge further support to the AU Mission in Darfur and for the transition to a UN peacekeeping operation. The UK will be represented at the conference. We will pledge 20 million to the AU Mission in Sudan for this financial year, bringing our total assistance since its inception to over 52 million. We are also encouraging the AU and other participants to use the conference to address how the AU and the international community can help take forward the Darfur Peace Agreement.

Terrorist Attack (Bali)

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds the Government have made available for a memorial service to commemorate those killed in the 2002 terrorist attacks in Bali.

Kim Howells: The Government arranged a service of remembrance for those killed or injured in the Bali bombings on 12 February 2003 in Southwark Cathedral, at a cost of 35,962.09.
	The Government are contributing 260,000, plus 44,000 VAT, to the London Memorial project in memory of the victims of the 2002 bombings in Bali.

Terrorist Attack (Bali)

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what warnings the Government made available to British citizens in Bali immediately prior to the bombings of 12 October 2002; what criteria were used to assess the risk; what level of risk was deemed appropriate on 3 October 2002; and what information was available from the British Embassy in Jakarta.

Ian McCartney: The question of travel advice for Indonesia at the time of the Bali bombings and the information upon which it was based was fully covered in the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) report published in December 2002 and the Government response in February 2003. Both the ISC report and the Government response can be found on the Cabinet Office website at: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/publications/reprots/intelligence/CM5724.pdf and http://cabinetoffice.gov.uk/publications/reports/intelligence/govresbali.pdf, respectively.

Zimbabwe

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which EU countries have indicated support for trade sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Ian McCartney: The EU common position against Zimbabwe consists of a travel ban and assets freeze against 126 members of the Mugabe regime. There are no trade sanctions, as these would hurt innocent Zimbabweans who are already suffering. Nor are we aware of any EU partners supporting the case for trade sanctions.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if she will list in date order  (a) Green and  (b) White Papers produced by her Department since October 2005.

Edward Miliband: For the purposes of answering this Question, I have assumed that the hon. Member is referring to Command Papers. Command Papers published since October 2005 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  CM no.  Title  Publication date 
			 6683 Transformational Government 2 November 2005 
			 6685 Regulatory Impact Assessments from 1 January30 June 2005 30 November 2005 
			 6723 Government Response to the 10th Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life 15 December 2005 
			 6725 Autumn Performance Report 20 December 2005 
			 6785 Intelligence and Security Committee Report into London Terrorist Attacks of 7 July 2005 11 May 2006 
			 6786 Government Response to Intelligence and Security Committee Report into London Terrorist Attacks of 7 July 2005 11 May 2006 
			 6833 Departmental Report 18 May 2006 
			 6864 Intelligence and Security Committee Annual Report 2005-06 29 June 2006

Ministerial Responsibilities

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why the List of Ministerial Responsibilities is no longer available in  (a) PDF and  (b) Word editions on her Department's website; who she consulted before making this change; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Armstrong: In addition to the web-based version of the List of Ministerial Responsibilities which has a search facility, Word and PDF versions can now be accessed from the website. Hard copies are available in the Library for the reference of Members and are also available in the Vote Office.

Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on how many occasions  (a) she and  (b) her predecessor visited each region in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Hilary Armstrong: In the past 12 months my predecessor and I have made the following number of visits to the following regions:
	
		
			  Region  Number of visits 
			 East of England 2 
			 The North East 3 
			 The North West 2 
			 The South East 2

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Advertising Campaigns

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what advertising campaigns her Department and its predecessors have run since July 2004; and what the  (a) date and  (b) cost was of each.

Angela Smith: In the financial year 2004-05 the advertising campaigns run by the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister were as follows:
	 Fire SafetyAn advertising campaign to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by domestic fires.
	 (a) September and February
	 (b) 4.4 million
	 The Elected Regional Assemblies campaign to set out the case for Elected Regional Assemblies in the Northeast
	 (a) July/August
	 (b) 1.5 million
	In the financial year 2005-06 the advertising campaigns run by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister were as follows:
	 Fire Safety
	 (a) September and February
	 (b) 3.3 million
	 The campaign on the registration of landlords who own houses of multiple occupancy.
	 (a) February and March
	 (b) 1.4 million
	In the financial year 2006-07 the advertising campaigns run by the department to date are as follows.
	 Local E-Gov campaign Connect to your Council designed to encourage people to use on-line local government services, to deliver efficiency and cost savings to local authorities
	 (a) May through to July
	 (b) 5 million.
	 Fire Service recruitment campaign the encourage women to apply for posts in the Fire and Rescue Service.
	 (a) May through to August
	 (b) 800,000
	 The campaign to inform business of their new responsibilities under the Fire Order Reform.
	 (a) June through to September
	 (b) 1.3 million
	 The trade sector Home Information Pack campaign.
	(a) April through to September.
	(b) 557,000.
	 A continuation of the advertising campaign on the registration of landlords
	 (a) April to June.
	 (b) 300,000.
	 The Department for Communities and Local Government are planning to run Fire Safety advertising.
	 (a) September and February
	 (b) 1.8 million.

Agency Staff

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what average hourly rate was paid by her Department to each employment agency for staff employed through agencies in 2005-06.

Angela Smith: The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has a framework agreement with three employment agencies.
	The average hourly rate paid to each of them in 2005-06 was 12.82, 13.83 and 12.34 respectively.
	DCLG uses agencies to supply temporary staff to cover short-term needs.

Birmingham Tornado

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made in repairing the areas of Birmingham affected by the tornado in July 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The information is as follows:
	 Housing
	The serious damage to housing was in the Sparkbrook/Moseley area, where many houses suffered damage to roofs and supporting walls.
	 Council Housing
	The city council owned a handful of homes in the tornado affected area; any that were damaged have had repairs completed and the tenants are back in their homes.
	 Registered Social Housing
	Most of the social housing in the area is owned by a small number of registered social landlords (RSLs) and in all around 900 of their homes suffered damage; some sustaining severe damage to the main structure, making them structurally unsound.
	A number of residents (mostly RSL tenants) had to be temporarily re-housed while repairs works were carried out, but the vast majority are now back in their homes.
	The four largest RSLs in the area report that all repairs have been completed and all their tenants have returned home.
	 Private Sector Housing
	A smaller number of private sector homes suffered damage, and although the city council offered loans to residents for repair costs, the majority of tenants were able to access either insurance payments or make separate funding arrangements.
	 Parks and Public Open Spaces
	Parks and public open spaces in the affected area suffered considerable damage, with park infrastructure such as railings, footpaths, lighting columns, litter bins, benches, play equipment and signs badly damaged. Over 500 trees were destroyed90 per cent. of the total.
	All health and safety issues and structural features such as paths and boundary railings have now been repaired and/or replaced in the parks and public open spaces affected by the tornado.
	Some replacement tree planting was carried out last autumn, sponsored by the city council's service providers, and there are plans to carry out additional planting this coming autumn.
	A redevelopment plan for the worst affected site, Balsall Heath Park, is being developed with local residents.
	 Businesses
	An initial survey of the affected area indicated there were 114 business physically affected by the tornado. The majority of local traders are now back in business.
	 Investment
	The city council have provided the emergency/recovery costs associated with the tornado, this accounted for an overall figure of 4.3 million. Further to this, 1.0 million of capital investment funding is being approved.
	RSLs in the area have also invested around 6 million to repair damaged homes.

Building Capacity

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding was allocated to Swindon borough council under the category of building capacity in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06.

Phil Woolas: Swindon received approval for grant of 85,000 in 2004-05 and 1,014,950 in 2005-06 under the category of building capacity.
	In addition, Swindon received approval for a grant of 1 million in March 2005 to enable the council to meet expenditure incurred through the piloting of a social services franchise with Kent county council. The Department of Health met 180,000 of the 1 million.

Carbon Monoxide/Fire Alarms

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimates she has made of the percentage of households equipped with  (a) carbon monoxide and  (b) fire alarms in (i) Lancashire and (ii) West Lancashire constituency.

Angela Smith: Information is not available centrally on the percentage of households equipped with carbon monoxide alarms.
	Figures from the Survey of English Housing 2004-05 show that an estimated 79 per cent. of households in Lancashire have a working smoke alarm. Information is not available centrally on the West Lancashire constituency.

Civil Servants

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many civil servants are employed by  (a) the Government Office of the South West and  (b) the South West Regional Assembly.

Angela Smith: The Government Office for the South West employs 323 civil servants.
	The South West Regional Assembly (SWRA) Secretariat has one civil servant seconded to it from the Home Office.

Command Papers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list the Unnumbered Command Papers produced by her Department in each Session since 1976; by what means  (a) hon. Members and  (b) members of the public can (i) inspect and (ii) obtain copies; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Since the Department for Communities and Local Government was formed on 5 May 2006, it has not produced any Unnumbered Command Papers.

Commission on Integration and Cohesion

Piara S Khabra: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the role of the Commission on Integration and Cohesion.

Phil Woolas: The Commission on Integration and Cohesion, which was announced on Wednesday 28 June, will consider how local areas themselves can play a role in forging cohesive and resilient communities, by:
	Examining the issues that raise tensions between different groups in different areas, and that lead to segregation and conflict
	Suggesting how local community and political leadership can push further against perceived barriers to cohesion and integration
	Looking at how local communities themselves can be empowered to tackle extremist ideologies
	Developing approaches that build local areas' own capacity to prevent problems, and ensure they have the structures in place to recover from periods of tension.
	The Commission will undertake its work within the context of existing Government policy.
	It will be chaired by Mr. Darra Singh OBE, the chief executive of Ealing borough council.

Consultancies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which  (a) public affairs and  (b) public relations consultancies the Government Office of the South East has commissioned since 2001; for what purpose in each case; and how much was spent on each contract.

Angela Smith: Government Offices moved to a new financial accounting system from April 2003 therefore I am unable to provide complete information prior to that date. In defining whether consultancy work covered Public Affairs I have defined this as any consultancy work that would provide value and knowledge to our partner organisations or add to regional intelligence. Therefore all work (with the exception of number 5) I have defined as Public Affairs. Activity 5 was a GOSE partnership survey and I have defined this as public relations. Excluded from the table is any consultancy work which I have defined as inward facing such as GOSE organisational development e.g. IIP costs.
	Where work has been commissioned from a consultant who is an individual rather than an organisation I have been advised that providing their names could be prohibited by the Data Protection Act 1998. In these few cases I have provided brief details of the work and cost.
	Details of consultants are as follows:
	
		
			  Number  Consultant  Date  Purpose  Cost 
			 1 Abucus June 2001 Project to identify the extent of the impact of Foot and Mouth Disease in the South East. 14,750 
			 2 StepAhead Research 2001 Audit and mapping of ICT provision in Buckinghamshire. 3,000 (est.) DfES funded 
			 3 We Research It Ltd 2002-03 Aim was to establish how the outcomes of children's and young people's services can be improved. 12,888 Commissioned by GOSE funded by DfES 
			 4 Individual consultant 2003-04 This was phase 2 of the above work; the consultants ran workshops to look at the strengths and weaknesses of links between Children's Fund, Sure Start, Connexions and other partnerships. 20,000 Work commissioned by GOSE funded by DfES 
			 5 MORI Survey September 2003 The aim of the work was to understand and measure the expectations and satisfaction levels of GOSE partners. 36,380 
			 6 Mackinnon October 2003 To contribute to the development of South East Learning Partnerships. 4,112 
			 7 Indvidual Consultant January 2004 To write a case study on Oxford/Oxfordshire as to how innovation and technology transfer has contributed to the economic success of the county. 3,760 
			 8 Scarman Trust February 2004 To look at ways of maximising the availability and accessibility of funding for local communities. 20,000 
			 9 Individual Consultant March 2004 To strengthen the bids of Brighton, Canterbury and Oxford to the Urban Cultural Programme. 5,000 
			 10 Cornwell Management April 2004 The aim of the review was to provide advice to the Regional Skills for Productivity Alliance (RSfPA) on labour market intelligence activity and processes needed in 2004-05. 31,100 
			 11 Richhaze April 2004 To part fund the development of an awareness pack, to help to influence strategies regarding young people with disabilities. 4,682 
			 12 NIACE April 2004 To make proposal for the further development of learning communities in the South East. 13,437 
			 13 Spark Research August 2004 Carried out background research for the Regional Housing strategy (published in June 2005). 5,700 
			 14 KPMG November 2004 The project aim was to field-test a partnership approach to improving the quality and supply of labour market intelligence. 17,021 
			 15 Disability matters February 2005 Provision of advice on disability issues to the ESF Objective 3 Regional committee and its equalities working group. 1,631 
			 16 ECOTEC September 2005 Mid-term evaluation of South East Objective 2 programme to review whether programme is on tracking and meeting milestones and objectives. 12,469 
			 17 Pricewaterhouse Cooper November 2005 To pilot performance improvement in LAAs 6,000 
			 18 KPMG March 2005 Provided a feasibility study to create interactive vocational pathways resource in the South East. 4,749 
			 19 Office for Public Management March 2006 Evaluate success of round 2 LAAs including the organising of a conference. 9,825 
			 20 Largeportion Ltd March 2006 To contribute to the development of a youth information development website. 875 
			 21 Big Solutions April 2006 To research, develop and present a scoping paper around developing a scoping strategy for employers and the Regional Skills for Productivity Alliance. 5,000 
			 22 Individual Consultant  Project was to arrange and facilitate a conference to look at behaviour and attendance issues for young people. 2,475 
			 23 RogerTym and Partners March 2006 The work was commissioned by DCLG and GOSE to provide independent technical advice for the forthcoming Examination in Public (EIP) of the Draft South East Plan (SEP). 75,000 Funded by DCLG 
			 24 Disability Matters To December 2006 As per number 1. 1,320 
			 25 Individual Consultant May 2006 Provided advice and guidance on LAA reward targets. 587.50 
			 26 LG Consulting November 2005 to June 2006 To work with local groups to help them to identify and review the stage of their partnerships development. 18,700 Funded from Home Office Change Up Programme 
			 27 A Word in Edgeways June 2006 To learn lessons from the ChangeUp programme, to work with local groups so as to help them review their progress and share lessons learnt. 20,000 Funded by the Home Office Change Up Programme 
			 28 Individual Consultant April 2006 To provide facilitation and media work for local Consortia. 5,000 Funded by the ChangeUp Programme Budget 
			 29 Individual Consultant June 2006 To evaluate and capture the lessons learned from the ChangeUp Coordinators. 600 Funded by the ChangeUp programme

Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will reply to the letter of 29 March from the hon. Member for Northavon on behalf of Mr. Perkins, a constituent, on energy conservation.

Angela Smith: The Department has no record of receiving the hon. Member's letter of 29 March. Officials have now obtained a copy of the letter from the hon. Member and a reply will be sent shortly.

Council Tax

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were liable for payment of council tax in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The number of chargeable dwellings liable for council tax in England are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 1997 20,093,000 
			 1998 20,233,000 
			 1999 20,374,000 
			 2000 20,586,000 
			 2001 20,717,000 
			 2002 20,855,000 
			 2003 20,991,000 
			 2004 21,129,000 
			 2005 21,267,000 
		
	
	The data are as reported by all billing local authorities in England on the annual CTB1 forms. The number of individuals liable for council tax cannot be accurately determined from these or other sources.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2005,  Official Report, column 2063W, on council tax revaluation, for how many residential properties in England the Valuation Office Agency had  (a) dwelling house codes data and  (b) value significant codes data on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: As at 3 July 2006 the Valuation Office Agency had dwelling house code data on 21,905,065 out of 22,131,262 dwellings in England. On this date there were 5,604,096 dwellings with value significant codes.

Departmental Premises (Security)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures are in place to ensure that no illegal immigrants are employed in the manned guarding of her Department's premises.

Angela Smith: Security guards engaged in guarding the Department's premises are employed via contractors. Guards are subject to the Government Basic Check regime which includes checks on passports, leave to remain in or enter the U.K. and verification of employment history. In addition all guards are licensed by the Security Industry Authority under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Guards in the London headquarter buildings are also subject to security vetting at Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) level.
	This answer does not include the buildings occupied by Government Offices for the Regions who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Departmental Staff

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 27 June 2006,  Official Report, column 290W, on departmental staff, what the estimated cost is of relocating civil servants from 26 Whitehall to Eland House.

Angela Smith: The estimated cost of relocating all the Department for Communities and Local Government's civil servants from 26 Whitehall to Eland House is 40,231.

Departmental Staff

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 27 June 2006,  Official Report, column 290W, on departmental staff, what the function is of the ministerial group in 26 Whitehall.

Angela Smith: The nine staff of the ministerial group currently based in 26 Whitehall will move to the Department's headquarters in Eland House once space is made available there in the summer. The functions carried out by the staff include parliamentary business and finance and IT support for the ministerial group.

Departmental Travel

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to ensure that all flights undertaken by Ministers and officials in her Department are carbon neutral; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: All central Government ministerial and official air travel is being offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases certified emissions reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.

E-government

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government are taking to encourage local councils to make council services available via the internet.

Angela Smith: We have invested 675 million in local electronic government over the last five years, taking the electronic enablement of council services from 26 per cent. in 2001 up to 98 per cent. in 2006. Through the local e-government programme, every council in England has received 0.9 million in capital grant from the DCLG to help deliver e-government, including making council services available via the internet. In May, we launched the 5 million 'Connect to your council1 national advertising campaign, designed to raise citizen awareness and take-up of council services online, while at the same time encouraging councils to see the internet as a mainstream channel for service delivery.

Equalities Impact Assessments

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether equalities impact assessments  (a) are required and  (b) may be directed in relation to local authorities budget decisions.

Meg Munn: All local authorities are require to undertake race equality impact assessments on policies and functions where there is relevance to race equality. This could include budget decisions if they are to result in a policy change that is likely to have an adverse impact on any ethnic group or if there is an opportunity to promote race equality. It is for the public authority to screen their policies, functions and decisions to decide whether there is any relevance to race equality, and if so to undertake a race equality impact assessment.
	The Secretary of State may not direct an authority to conduct an impact assessment, but the Commission for Racial Equality has the power to issue a compliance notice to public authorities if the Commission believes that the authority is failing in its duties to promote race equality.
	Under the forthcoming public sector duties on disability equality (to come into effect December 2006) and gender equality (April 2007), local authorities will be required to carry out impact assessments on their current or proposed policies and practices which will help them achieve disability and gender equality in their activities and business planning process. These duties will be enforceable by the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission, respectively. The Commission for Equality and Human Rights will take over these enforcement powers from October 2007.

EU Directive 2002/91/EC

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the scoping study produced by National Energy Services for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the implementation of EU Directive 2002/91/EC.

Angela Smith: I have placed a copy of the National Energy Services Report An accreditation scheme for energy inspectors Phase 1: Scoping Study in the House Library.

Firefighters

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many firefighter trainees were taken on by fire authorities in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The number of successful applicants for firefighter posts (whole time and retained duty system) in England for the last five years is set out as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2000-01 2,786 
			 2001-02 2,847 
			 2002-03 2,754 
			 2003-04 2,617 
			 2004-05 2,005 
			  Source:  Fire and rescue service returns to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Firefighters

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many firefighters left each fire authority in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The available information is set out as follows:
	
		
			  Number of firefighters leaving the fire and rescue service in England 
			   2000-01  2001-02  2002-03 
			   WT( 1)  RDS( 2)  Total  WT( 1)  RDS( 2)  Total  WT( 1)  RDS( 2)  Total 
			 Avon 20 14 34 32 19 51 36 19 55 
			 Bedfordshire and Luton 10 16 26 25 22 47 21 15 36 
			 Buckinghamshire 16 14 30 11 24 35 11 11 22 
			 Cambridgeshire 16 33 49 15 35 50 11 23 34 
			 Cheshire 17 14 31 27 13 40 22 14 36 
			 Cleveland 17 10 27 23 8 31 41 7 48 
			 Cornwall 5 23 28 11 38 49 7 17 24 
			 County Durham and Darlington 19 21 40 16 11 27 12 20 32 
			 Cumbria 12 30 42 12 31 43 10 36 46 
			 Derbyshire 23 41 64 20 35 55 27 32 59 
			 Devon 12 63 75 35 81 116 36 109 145 
			 Dorset 12 32 44 17 26 43 16 31 47 
			 East Sussex 28 31 59 26 25 51 27 26 53 
			 Essex 30 34 64 30 59 89 47 41 88 
			 Gloucestershire 9 32 41 9 21 30 7 16 23 
			 Greater Manchester 99 18 117 80 11 91 110 2 112 
			 Hampshire 40 101 141 56 64 120 58 87 145 
			 Hereford and Worcester 8 29 37 15 33 48 11 31 42 
			 Hertfordshire 38 20 58 28 26 54 38 31 69 
			 Humberside (3) 28 28 22 40 62 24 39 63 
			 Isle of Wight 0 18 18 2 22 24 1 10 11 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 2 2 0 2 2 1 3 4 
			 Kent 26 69 95 34 61 95 37 80 117 
			 Lancashire 38 65 103 39 51 90 36 48 84 
			 Leicestershire 16 11 27 17 20 37 30 21 51 
			 Lincolnshire 11 54 65 4 46 50 8 54 62 
			 London 265 0 265 249 0 249 281 0 281 
			 Merseyside 48 0 48 55 0 55 51 0 51 
			 Norfolk 20 40 60 13 37 50 18 41 59 
			 North Yorkshire 16 37 53 18 55 73 27 28 55 
			 Northamptonshire 9 26 35 26 27 53 11 34 45 
			 Northumberland 10 8 18 11 25 36 9 26 35 
			 Nottinghamshire 8 26 34 36 38 74 27 47 74 
			 Oxfordshire 17 37 54 6 40 46 12 47 59 
			 Royal Berkshire 16 13 29 28 11 39 28 22 50 
			 Shropshire 11 22 33 5 18 23 5 19 24 
			 Somerset 8 25 33 7 19 26 7 15 22 
			 South Yorkshire 39 15 54 54 14 68 48 6 54 
			 Staffordshire 31 42 73 19 65 84 16 36 52 
			 Suffolk 18 30 48 20 38 58 14 31 45 
			 Surrey 31 17 48 50 14 64 49 20 69 
			 Tyne and Wear 54 1 55 52 5 57 49 1 50 
			 Warwickshire 15 20 35 10 27 37 13 22 35 
			 West Midlands 105 0 105 106 1 107 101 1 102 
			 West Sussex (3) (3) (3) 20 38 58 31 34 65 
			 West Yorkshire 57 17 74 107 20 127 84 14 98 
			 Wiltshire 10 38 48 14 40 54 7 35 42 
		
	
	
		
			  2003-04 2004-05(4) 
			   WT( 1)  RDS( 2)  Total  WT( 1)  RDS( 2)  Total 
			 Avon 37 21 58 40 15 55 
			 Bedfordshire and Luton 13 21 34 24 14 38 
			 Buckinghamshire 10 21 31 15 15 30 
			 Cambridgeshire 7 36 43 18 30 48 
			 Cheshire 25 23 48 23 13 36 
			 Cleveland 22 4 26 27 9 36 
			 Cornwall 9 49 58 7 32 39 
			 County Durham and Darlington 14 15 29 37 16 53 
			 Cumbria 10 31 41 12 21 33 
			 Derbyshire 19 35 54 26 19 45 
			 Devon 27 76 103 33 58 91 
			 Dorset 11 34 45 18 21 39 
			 East Sussex 19 24 43 18 18 36 
			 Essex 48 44 92 51 40 91 
			 Gloucestershire 10 26 36 13 20 33 
			 Greater Manchester 84 5 89 120 7 127 
			 Hampshire 37 68 105 45 78 123 
			 Hereford and Worcester 13 39 52 25 30 55 
			 Hertfordshire 42 28 70 45 22 67 
			 Humberside 28 33 61 46 35 81 
			 Isle of Wight 6 11 17 5 13 18 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 2 2 0 2 2 
			 Kent 33 78 111 35 67 102 
			 Lancashire 32 46 78 39 41 80 
			 Leicestershire 21 30 51 24 16 40 
			 Lincolnshire 13 46 59 8 54 62 
			 London 319 0 319 327 0 327 
			 Merseyside 51 0 51 91 0 91 
			 Norfolk 10 30 40 21 36 57 
			 North Yorkshire 32 63 95 21 33 54 
			 Northamptonshire 18 33 51 16 18 34 
			 Northumberland 12 16 28 10 14 24 
			 Nottinghamshire 40 57 97 42 41 83 
			 Oxfordshire 8 49 57 8 33 41 
			 Royal Berkshire 26 24 50 28 12 40 
			 Shropshire 7 23 30 21 26 47 
			 Somerset 8 27 35 12 19 31 
			 South Yorkshire 54 10 64 65 12 77 
			 Staffordshire 15 50 65 25 33 58 
			 Suffolk 14 48 62 15 28 43 
			 Surrey 49 13 62 31 20 51 
			 Tyne and Wear 41 0 41 48 1 49 
			 Warwickshire 13 23 36 15 19 34 
			 West Midlands 107 0 107 107 0 107 
			 West Sussex 15 45 60 29 20 49 
			 West Yorkshire 87 12 99 95 11 106 
			 Wiltshire 13 37 50 10 29 39 
			 (1 )Wholetime.  (2) Retained duty system.  (3 )Not available.  (4) Data for 2004-05 are provisional.   Source:  Fire and Rescue Service returns to DCLG.

Firefighting

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many deliberate  (a) vehicle fires and  (b) fires there were in West Suffolk in each year since 1995.

Angela Smith: Information on fires for the West Suffolk constituency is not available centrally. The following table shows deliberate primary fires by location, attended by the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service since 1995.
	
		
			  Deliberate fires by location and year, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service 
			   Road vehicles fires  Total fires 
			 1995 104 348 
			 1996 106 368 
			 1997 164 386 
			 1998 148 373 
			 1999 222 461 
			 2000 326 600 
			 2001 400 702 
			 2002 375 625 
			 2003 358 673 
			 2004 326 604 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are based on the sampled data grossed to fire and rescue service totals.  2. Figures exclude any fires in November 2002 and January-February 2003 strike periods.  Source:  Fire and Rescue Service returns to DCLG.

Firefighting

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many malicious false alarm calls were attended by the Fire and Rescue Service in West Suffolk in each year since 1995.

Angela Smith: Information on malicious false alarm calls for the West Suffolk constituency is not available centrally. The following table shows malicious false alarms attended by the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service since 1995.
	
		
			  Malicious false alarms, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service 
			   Number of false alarms 
			 1995 488 
			 1996 516 
			 1997 488 
			 1998 350 
			 1999 355 
			 2000 385 
			 2001 437 
			 2002 408 
			 2003 349 
			 2004 329 
			  Note:  Figures exclude any false alarms in November 2002 and January-February 2003 strike periods.   Source:  Fire and Rescue Service returns to DCLG.

Golf Courses

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs treats the greens of golf courses as subject to business rates if the green is  (a) private property and  (b) common land.

Phil Woolas: The Valuation Office Agency, an executive agency of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, has the statutory responsibility for assessing properties for rating purposes. As a non-domestic property, a golf course will usually be liable to business rates. Being an integral part of the course, the greens are valued as part of the whole rather than attracting any separate liability. The basis of valuation for rating purposes of a golf course applies equally to private, public or municipal courses, although the level of value will vary to reflect differences in quality and geographical location. The greens of a golf course are therefore subject to business rates regardless of whether they lie on private property or common land.
	There are exceptions, however, depending on the facts of the case. It may be that a golf club is not considered to be in exclusive occupation of the course, thereby failing one of the requirements for rateability. Alternatively, a course may be exempt from rating if it is held as part of a larger public park and available for free and unrestricted use by the public.

Government Offices

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which organisations were consulted in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister/Treasury Review of Government Offices; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) Race Impact Assessment and  (b) departmental response.

Angela Smith: Existing studies, stakeholder surveys and peer reviews fed into the evidence base for the Government office (GO) review, as did views from all sponsor Departments of GOs, from some GO staff and from the East Midlands Regional Development Agency, the London Development Agency, West Midlands Regional Assembly, the North East Regional Assembly and the Local Government Association.
	The Race Impact Assessment for the review is expected to be published in September and a copy will be placed in the Library of both houses.

Government Offices

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much each Government Office spent on consultants from  (a) administrative and  (b) programme expenditure between April 2005 and March 2006.

Angela Smith: Government office expenditure on consultants from administrative expenditure between April 2005 and March 2006 were:
	
		
			  Government office  2005-06 expenditure 
			 North East 0 
			 North West 187,840 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 150,610 
			 West Midlands 18,880 
			 East Midlands 342,830 
			 East 135,510 
			 SouthWest 9,100 
			 South East 33,680 
			 London 368,480 
		
	
	Programme budgets administered by the Government offices are the responsibility of the Secretaries of State for the relevant sponsor Departments. They have therefore not been entered.

Graffiti/Fly-posting

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much each London borough spent on graffiti removal in each year since 2001.

Angela Smith: Figures are not available for the amount each London borough spent on graffiti removal each year since 2001. However, Graffiti in London, a report by the London Assembly Graffiti Investigative committee in May 2002 estimated the annual expenditure in London boroughs at 7 million.

Graffiti/Fly-posting

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding West Lancashire local authorities have sought under section 106 of the Town and County Planning Act 1990 to tackle graffiti and fly-posting.

Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	West Lancashire district council has not sought any funding under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to address graffiti and fly posting issues.

Interests (Code of Conduct)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what advice she offers parish and town councillors on how to interpret the code of conduct on declaring interests.

Phil Woolas: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has offered no advice about the code of conduct, which is a matter for the independent Standards Board for England. The Standards Board has issued guidance for parish and town councillors on the requirements under the code to declare interests.

Local Authority Targets

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans the Government have to assist local authorities to meet their targets to  (a) reduce sickness and absence levels and  (b) for processing housing benefit claims.

Phil Woolas: (a) the Department for Communities and Local Government plans to continue working collaboratively with Local Government Employers, the organisation responsible for monitoring and supporting local authorities on attendance management. Work includes good practice guidance, case studies and accessible (including web based) advice on a range of management interventions available for different local circumstances.
	Good practice on attendance management in local authorities sits within a well-developed Performance Management Framework including:
	the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) which covers managing sickness absence;
	corporate performance indicators ('BVPIs') covering sickness absence which mean that individual LA data is audited and therefore credible and robust;
	the 2005 Local Government Pay and Workforce Strategy, and more recently a strand of the 'Productive Time/ business process improvement' element of the Efficiency Agenda.
	Moreover, the Government are planning a series of seminars starting from the autumn to provide leadership and support to senior local authority managers to tackle improving attendance management and efficiency.
	 (b) The Department for Work and Pensions plans to continue helping local authorities improve their performance in processing housing benefit claims through a programme that includes consultancy support, maintaining clear performance standards, investment and, where possible, simplification of the scheme.

Local Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 27 June 2006,  Official Report, column 298W, on local government, how many written representations her Department has received from  (a) district and  (b) county councils which have not supported the principle of unitary status; and from which councils such representations have come.

Phil Woolas: Our records show receipt of 12 representations from the following district council members and officers which have not supported the principle of unitary local government:
	 Members:
	Bolsover
	Chichester
	Durham
	Horsham
	Shrewsbury and Atcham
	Tandridge
	Taunton Deane
	Tendring
	Wealden
	 Officers:
	Chesterfield
	Hambleton
	North Warwickshire
	Richmondshire
	Our records show four representations from the following county council members and officers which have not supported the principle of unitary local government:
	 Members:
	North Yorkshire
	Kent
	 Officers:
	Staffordshire

Local Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 27 June 2006,  Official Report, column 298W, on local government, of which councils the senders of the representations concerned were members or officers.

Phil Woolas: Pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 27 June 2006, our records show that representations were received from members of the following councils:
	Ashfield
	Bedford
	Cambridge
	Chester
	Chiltern
	Cornwall
	Crawley
	Derwentside
	Durham County
	Easington
	Forest of Dean
	Gloucestershire
	Herefordshire
	Lichfield Maidstone
	Northumberland
	Norwich
	Shropshire
	Tewkesbury
	West Lancashire
	Our records show that representations were received from officers of the following councils:
	Ashford
	Bedford
	Cheshire
	Easington
	Exeter
	Ipswich
	Lancaster
	Maidstone
	Norwich
	Oxford
	South Buckinghamshire
	Watford
	Worcester

Local Government Reorganisation

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost was of each local government reorganisation in England since 1981.

Phil Woolas: Information on the costs of restructuring local government is not held centrally. However in the case of the local government reorganisations in the 1990s, resources in the form of unsupported supplementary credit approvals (SCAs) totalling 492.3 million were made available to reorganised authorities to meet the one-off indirect costs of reorganisation.

London Olympics

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to what extent  (a) the Olympic Delivery Committee,  (b) the Greater London Authority,  (c) Transport for London and  (d) the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games are bound by the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity.

Phil Woolas: Statute does not require any of these bodies to have regard to the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity.

Mayoral Referendums

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance the Government have published on the classification of expenditure on  (a) gathering signatures for a mayoral petition and  (b) campaigning for or against a mayoral referendum.

Phil Woolas: The Government have not published guidance on the classification of expenditure on gathering signatures for a mayoral petition. Chapter 13 of guidance on council constitutions issued by the Government set out guidance and statutory rules which apply in respect of expenditure incurred on campaigning in referendums.

Mayoral Referendums

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to what extent her plans for city mayors will involve elected mayors representing  (a) an existing local authority area and  (b) an area crossing a number of existing single-tier local authorities.

Phil Woolas: Discussions are ongoing with the core cities regarding their business case proposals, following the summits that were held during 2005. Those business cases include options for devolving decision-making to the cities or city-regions (which may cover a number of local authorities). We will further develop these ideas and associated thinking, including on individual local authority leadership, in the forthcoming Local Government White Paper.

Neighbourhood Management Schemes

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role she proposes for local councillors in proposed neighbourhood management schemes.

Phil Woolas: Local councillors have a vital contribution to make to neighbourhood management schemes, and research shows the most successful Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders have a very close working relationship with local councillors. Councillors can play a variety of roles, for example by acting as a champion for the neighbourhood within the local authority or with partner organisations. In most cases, the Government would expect councillors to be a part of local steering groups overseeing a neighbourhood management scheme. More information is provided in Neighbourhood renewal and social inclusiona councillor's guide. This guide was published in November 2005 jointly by Improvement and Development Agency, Local Government Association and Local Government Information Unit, with sponsorship from the Department for Communities and Local Government (previously the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister).

Private Office

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the size is of her private office in square feet.

Angela Smith: The size of the office occupied by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is 571 square feet, and her Private Office occupy a separate office of 560 square feet.

Reduced Ignition Propensity Cigarettes

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on possible standards for reduced ignition propensity cigarettes to be introduced under the EU's General Product Safety Directive.

Angela Smith: There have been recent discussions in Europe on possible standards for reduced ignition propensity cigarettes at the General Product Safety Directive Committee Meeting on 14 June 2006.
	The UK's position in those discussions was that there was sufficient evidence to recommend the development of a European technical standard for reduced ignition propensity cigarettes. The European Commission has indicated that it will undertake further investigation into the need for such action.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government will issue a written statement shortly regarding the potential for reduced ignition propensity cigarettes to reduce accidental fires in the home.

Regional Funding (South-West)

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list the Governmental organisations with responsibility  (a) to spend and  (b) to allocate funds in the South-West.

Phil Woolas: The governmental organisations for whose expenditure and allocation of funds the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is responsible are the DCLG itself, its executive agencies and its sponsored non- departmental public bodies.
	A full list of these is included in the Department's annual report and updated from time-to-time on the DCLG website. Those with the authority to allocate or administer funds within the South-West are the Commission for Racial Equality, the Community Development Foundation, English Partnerships/Commission for the New Towns, FireBuy and the Housing Corporation.
	In addition, DCLG has responsibility for the regeneration funding administered by the Department for Trade and Industry-sponsored Regional Development Agencies, for European Regional Development Fund programmes and (jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions) for European Social Fund spending in the South-West.
	The Government Office for the South-West delivers a wide range of Government policies and programmes on behalf of 10 Whitehall Departments (including DCLG). These together aim to regenerate communities, fight crime, tackle housing needs, improve public health, raise standards in education and skills, tackle countryside issues and reduce unemployment.

Residential Development

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many appeals the Planning Inspectorate permitted in 2005 involving residential development, in part or whole, on gardens.

Meg Munn: This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Standards Board

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many complaints were made to the Standards Board for England in each year since its inception in relation to each different type of council it is responsible for; and how many complaints  (a) were not pursued,  (b) there were where there was no breach in standards,  (c) were where no further action was necessary  (d) were referred for local determination and  (e) were referred to the Adjudication Panel; and what the recommendation was of the panel which was referred to it in each case.

Phil Woolas: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Standards Board to write to my hon. Friend on this matter. I shall arrange for a copy of his reply to be placed in the Library of the House.

Standards Board

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of complaints submitted to the Standards Board in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06 were against parish councillors.

Phil Woolas: I have asked the chief executive of the Standards Board to write to the hon. Member on this matter. I shall arrange for a copy of his reply to be placed in the Library of the House.

Travellers

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers are available to planning authorities enabling preventive action to be taken in relation to the Unauthorised development of land sold to Travellers.

Meg Munn: Section 187B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 provides that planning authorities may, if they consider it necessary, apply to the court for an injunction to restrain an actual or anticipated breach of planning control.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 21 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1877W, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether the plot sizes that Ordnance Survey data are used for include data for the plots of  (a) open spaces and  (b) residential gardens.

Phil Woolas: Ordnance Survey maps show  (a) open spaces and  (b) residential gardens. Whether these are within the plot of a domestic property, which is to be taken as part of a dwelling for council tax banding purposes (as defined in section 3 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992) is dependant upon what land belongs to or is enjoyed with that domestic property.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 21 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1877W, on the Valuation Office Agency, if she will list the property attributes which have been gathered using Ordnance Survey maps.

Phil Woolas: Ordnance Survey (OS) maps have been used in some instances to clarify the extent of detachment (eg fully detached, semi-detached, terraced) of individual or small groups of properties.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 21 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1877W, on the Valuation Office Agency, if she will place in the Library a copy of the data supplied by Rightmove.

Phil Woolas: Data are supplied by Rightmove.co.uk plc under a contractual arrangement which prohibits disclosure.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 22 June 2006,  Official Report, column 2045W, on the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), if she will place in the Library a copy of all the  (a) dwelling house code and  (b) value significant code data held by the VOA for each of those official residences.

Phil Woolas: Any decision to place individual property attribute coding information into the public domain would be subject to public consultation. Until such consultation has been undertaken revealing coding detail of any dwelling is not appropriate.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 19 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1600W, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether  (a) crime and  (b) deprivation influence the chartered surveyor's assessment of market forces.

Phil Woolas: Chartered surveyors employed within the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) used their market and valuation knowledge to identify geographic areas within which domestic property prices are influenced by the same or similar market forces (these are known as localities). The market for dwellings may well be influenced by levels of crime and deprivation, amongst many other factors. No separate analysis of these factors is made by the Valuation Office Agency as, even if possible, this is not considered necessary.

West Lancashire District Council

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was allocated to the West Lancashire district council for  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) each year since 1996-97 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms.

Phil Woolas: The amount of formula grant provided to West Lancashire district council for the period 1996-97 to 2006-07 in both cash and real terms (deflated by the GDP deflator) is given in the following table. Formula grant consists of revenue support grant, redistributed business rates and SSA reduction grant (SSA review) where appropriate.
	
		
			   million 
			   Formula grant in cash terms  Formula grant in real terms( 1) 
			 1996-97 6.977 8.896 
			 1997-98 6.611 8.191 
			 1998-99 6.519 7.877 
			 1999-2000 6.693 7.926 
			 2000-01 7.064 8.250 
			 2001-02 7.225 8.242 
			 2002-03 7.393 8.181 
			 2003-04 8.067 8.669 
			 2004-05 7.644 7.997 
			 2005-06 7.870 8.062 
			 2006-07 9.081 9.081 
			 (1) Base year = 2006-07   Note:  These figures are not comparable year-on-year due to changes in funding and function. For example, in 2004-05 funding for housing benefit ceased to be included within formula grant but was instead paid by special grant from DWP.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Modernisation

Paul Rowen: To ask the Leader of the House if he will make a statement on his plans to modernise the proceedings of the House.

Jack Straw: I am keen to take forward the work of my predecessors in modernisation of the House and its proceedings. The Modernisation Select Committee, which I chair, is planning to produce a report on the Legislative Process in the near future. I am looking also at ways of improving the effectiveness in the ways the House can hold the Government to account in other areas. I am happy to receive representations on these matters from all Members.

Ministerial Statements

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Leader of the House if he will bring forward proposals to provide that Ministerial Statements are not begun on a Thursday until a full hour has been spent on Business Questions.

Nigel Griffiths: My right hon. Friend has no plans to bring forward proposals on this issue.
	The amount of time provided for Business Questions is at the discretion of Mr. Speaker, who judges how much time is sufficient on a case-by-case basis.
	There are occasions when the full hour would not be used up.

EU Legislation

Keith Vaz: To ask the Leader of the House what steps he is taking to improve the scrutiny of EU legislation.

Jack Straw: The Government are considering the proposals of the Modernisation Committee in the last session on Scrutiny of European Business. We hope to bring forward ideas for taking this issue further forward in due course.

House of Lords Reform

Ben Chapman: To ask the Leader of the House if he will make a statement on reform of the House of Lords.

Jack Straw: The Joint Committee on Conventions was established on 22 May 2006 and will report at the end of this Session. The free vote on the composition of the House of Lords will take place around the turn of the year, preceding any legislation.

Parliamentary Questions

Peter Bone: To ask the Leader of the House if he will bring forward proposals to improve the accuracy of parliamentary answers and the speed with which they are provided.

Jack Straw: As I stated to the hon. Member in a written answer on 12 June 2006,  Official Report, column 885W, I attach great importance to the accuracy and timeliness of responses to parliamentary questions tabled in the House and I have raised the matter directly with ministerial colleagues.
	Departments should answer named day questions on that day and endeavour to reply to ordinary written questions within a working week.
	I refer the hon. Member also to the Adjournment debate on 28 June 2006 on this matter,  Official Report, column 344, in which it was noted that the substantial growth in the number of parliamentary questions tabled can place the system under pressure and that the time might be suitable for a further review of the system by the House.
	My office continues to offer guidance to other Departments about the handling of parliamentary questions.

Party Funding

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Leader of the House how many staff are assisting Sir Hayden Phillips's review of party funding.

Jack Straw: Sir Hayden Phillips has four staff assisting him in the review of party funding.
	These staff members have been seconded from the DCA and are separate from staff within the DCA who report to me on party funding.

Questionnaires

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House how many  (a) questionnaires,  (b) statistical inquiries and  (c) investigations have been carried out by his office wholly or partly at public expense in each year since 1997; and what the (i) nature, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost was in each case.

Jack Straw: None.

Saturday Sittings

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House on what dates the House has met on a Saturday since February 1986; what the main item of business under discussion was on each occasion; and at what time the House subsequently adjourned.

Jack Straw: The House has not met on any Saturday since February 1986.
	The last occasion on which the House met on a Saturday was in April 1982, to discuss the Falklands crisis.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Temporary Accommodation

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to improve work incentives for households in temporary accommodation.

James Plaskitt: As announced in this year's Budget, the Government intend to pilot an 'Extra Homes' scheme.
	The Extra Homes initiative will take the Working Future projectcurrently under evaluation in East Londona step further by helping to provide more settled homes in the longer term.
	Local authorities and housing associations will be invited to put forward innovative proposals to explore new approaches to help families in temporary accommodation overcome barriers to work and I would urge her borough to look into pursing that.

Civil Servants (Pensions)

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total pension liabilities are of his Department and the agencies for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The pension liabilities of the Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies are not separately identifiable in The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. This Scheme is an unfunded multi-employer defined benefit scheme and individual departments' pension liabilities are not available.
	The Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation Resource Accounts for 2004-05 gave the total pension liability for The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme at 31 March 2005 as 84.1 billion. However, a change in the discount rate used for calculating pension liabilities that took effect from 1 April 2005 has increased the liabilities of The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme to 94.7 billion.

Pension Reform

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress with his plans for pension reform.

James Purnell: There is a broad consensus around the basic principles of pension reform as proposed in the White Paper. But we are continuing a programme of active engagement with all stakeholders to cement this consensus. That programme will include Parliament, representatives of employers, consumers and the financial sector as well as the general public.
	This is in addition to the formal consultation on the White Paper, which closes on September 11(th). We will be publishing a summary of responses once the consultation has closed. We intend to bring forward legislation on Pensions Reform during the second Session of this Parliament, subject to approval by the Parliamentary Business Managers.

Pension Reform

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely impact of pensions reform on  (a) business and  (b) future pensioners.

James Purnell: The White Paper Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system and the accompanying regulatory impact assessment set out the likely impact of our pension reform proposals on key groups including businesses and future pensioners.

New Deal (Leicester)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the progress of the New Deal in Leicester.

Jim Murphy: New deal continues to be a success, with more than 9,000 people helped into work through the new deal programme in Leicester, including 2,750 people in my hon. Friend's constituency.

Talk on Trial: Report

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of commissioning the research report entitled Talk on Trial: Job interviews, language and ethnicity; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: In February 2004 King's College London (KCL) was commissioned following a competitive tendering process, to undertake research on whether ethnic minority candidates are disadvantaged in job interviews. The total cost of the research was 160,000. The KCL tender was chosen for three prime reasons: the KCL proposal provided the most innovative and robust set of methods for investigating the issues, the research team included members with a world-class reputation in this field of research, and it offered the best value for money from six tenders submitted.

50-plus Workers

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many personal advisers there are to assist new deal for over-50s claimants; and how many jobcentres provide facilities for such advisers.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie:
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question asking how many personal advisers there are to assist new deal for over 50s claimants, and how many jobcentres provide facilities for such advisers. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	There are currently in excess of 800 customer facing Jobcentre Plus offices. Every office delivers the voluntary New Deal 50 Plus programme. An eligible customer, wherever they live will have access to a New Deal Personal Adviser and the full range of support offered by New Deal 50 Plus. Since it was introduced in April 2000, New Deal 50 Plus has been successful in helping over 150,000 older workers into employment.
	As at April 2006, there were around 200 dedicated New Deal 50 Plus advisers. In addition there are other advisers trained and skilled to look after this client group.
	I hope this is helpful.

50-plus Workers

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of people in work aged 50 years and over in  (a) the Edinburgh local authority area and  (b) Edinburgh, West parliamentary constituency.

Jim Murphy: Like all other customers, people aged 50 and over can benefit from the range of services provided by Jobcentre Plus, including access to jobs and help and support to find work.
	Additional help is provided to older people who do not find work quickly. New deal 50 plus is a voluntary programme that provides people with advice and guidance from personal advisers, and access to in-work financial help through the 50 plus element of the working tax credit. Since April 2000, the programme has been successful in helping more than 150,000 older workers into employment, including 1,320 people in the city of Edinburgh local authority area and 210 in Edinburgh, West parliamentary constituency. Once in work, new deal 50 plus customers can claim a training grant of up to 1,500 for training of which up to 300 can be used for life-long learning.
	People aged 50 and over, including those in Edinburgh, are also eligible for help from new deal 25 plus. People who have been claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA) for 18 months and who have not previously participated on new deal 25 plus, are already required to attend the gateway stage of the new deal 25 plus programme. This is a period of up to four months of intensive job search and specialist help and support to improve job prospects. This is followed by the intensive activity period (IAP) which is currently voluntary for people aged 50 and over. The IAP provides further support and pre-work training to help people return to work.
	Since April 2004, we have been piloting mandatory participation in the new deal 25 plus IAP for people aged 50-59 who have been claiming JSA for 18 months. Edinburgh was not part of the pilot. However, interim pilot results have been positive and, as announced in our Welfare Reform Green Paper, we intend to commence a phased national rollout.
	Between 1979 and the mid 1990s, the number of people on incapacity benefits trebled. Since then, growth in the case load has slowed significantly and, in November 2005, there were 2.71 million people claiming incapacity benefits, a fall of 61,000 over the year. 46 per cent of those claiming incapacity benefits are aged between 50 and state pension age although, between 2000 and 2005, the number of people in this age group fell by 52,000. This has contributed to the overall reduction in the incapacity benefits case load.
	We still clearly have more work to do and, like other age groups, people aged 50 and over will be able to benefit from the rollout of the successful pathways to work service across the whole country which will be completed by 2008. Pathways offers new incapacity benefit (IB) customers early support from skilled personal advisers and direct access to a 'Choices Package' of employment programmes and clear financial incentives to make work pay. Any IB customer will be able to access the support and help available on a voluntary basis. Pathways is due to rollout in the Edinburgh area in the future.
	Through our Age Positive Campaign we are working with employers and others to promote the business benefits of an age diverse workforce and best practice on age in recruitment, training and promotion. In May 2005 we launched the 'Be Ready' national information campaign to raise employer awareness of, and ability to adopt, flexible employment and retirement opportunities to support the recruitment and retention of older workers in advance of age legislation due in October 2006.

Accident Victims

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been recovered from accident victims' compensation by way of recoupment of benefits in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the table.
	
		
			  Total amounts recovered by the Compensation Recovery Unit by way of recoupment from damages awarded to accident victims in each of the past three years 
			  Financial year  Amount () 
			 2003-04 171,096,832 
			 2004-05 163,392,733 
			 2005-06 148,840,619 
			  Note:  The figures in the table are rounded up to the nearest .   Source:  Figures are taken from the Compensation Recovery Unit's Management Information Statistics. 
		
	
	Under the provisions of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997, the compensatorthe person who caused the injury or, more commonly, his insureris liable both to pay damages to the injured person and to repay benefits to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. (It is not the actual benefits which are recovered, but an amount equivalent to the total benefit payment). In certain circumstances it will be possible for the compensator to deduct some or all of the amount he has had to repay to the Secretary of State from the gross compensation award, a practice known as offsetting.
	Not all social security benefits are recoverable. Retirement pension and child benefit, for example, are paid for reasons which could have no connection to a personal injury. The benefits which are recoverable are listed at Schedule 2 to the 1997 Act. They are grouped according to the head of damage against which they may be offset: loss of earnings, loss of mobility and cost of care.
	Social security benefits are not paid in respect of pain, suffering, personal inconvenience and so on, and therefore no offsetting may be made against the general damages element of a compensation award. If a compensation claim is settled by a payment made up of general damages, the compensator will have to bear the full cost of paying compensation and repaying benefits to the State.

Action for Employment Ltd

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been paid to Action for Employment Ltd. in each month since they entered into a contract with his Department to encourage benefit recipients to switch from receiving benefit payment from cheque to direct payment.

James Plaskitt: In order to protect the commercial position of the Department in negotiating future contracts of this nature, it is not policy to disclose the financial arrangements between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the contractor.

Action for Employment Ltd

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have switched their method of payment of benefits from cheque to direct payment after contact by Action for Employment Ltd., broken down by constituency.

James Plaskitt: As a result of practical help and support provided by Action for Employment, 19,000 customers switched their method of payment from cheque to direct payment. Action for Employment helped many of these customers to open a bank account for the first time, making a significant contribution to financial inclusion, and supporting the Government's aim to halve the number of households without bank accounts. We do not have a breakdown by constituency.

Action for Employment Ltd

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what basis Action for Employment Ltd. is paid by his Department for work in connection with encouraging benefit claimants to switch from benefit payment by cheque to direct payment.

James Plaskitt: Action for Employment Ltd. were paid by DWP to provide practical help and support to customers who expressed a wish to convert their method of payment from cheque to direct payment but had difficulty in doing so. To provide best value for the taxpayer, Action for Employment Ltd. were paid a fee for each customer who was able to successfully change their method of payment from cheque to direct paymentincluding direct payment into a Post Office card account.

Agency Staff

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what average hourly rate was paid by his Department to each employment agency for staff employed through agencies in 2005-06.

Anne McGuire: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only by incurring disproportionate cost.

Benefit Claimants

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which local authorities had an increase in the number of  (a) pensioners and  (b) people claiming (i) jobseeker's allowance and (ii) income support between 2001 and 2005.

James Plaskitt: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Benefit Claimants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in  (a) Yeovil constituency and  (b) Somerset received (i) housing benefit and (ii) jobseeker's allowance in 2005-06.

James Plaskitt: Housing benefit information is not available at parliamentary constituency level; the local authority information has been given instead. As at November 2005, there were 7,270 households in South Somerset district council, and 26,080 households in Somerset in receipt of housing benefit.
	As at May 2006, there were 815 people in the Yeovil parliamentary constituency and 3,938 people in Somerset in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. The information is the most recent available for both benefits.

Benefit Claimants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the take-up rate of council tax benefit was in  (a) Yeovil constituency and  (b) Somerset in each year since 1996-97; and how many pensioners (i) were entitled to and (ii) received council tax benefit in each year.

James Plaskitt: Estimates of take-up and entitlement for council tax benefit are not available below national level; the latest available information is in Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take Up in 2003-04, a copy of which is in the Library.
	Figures for the number of council tax benefit claimants are not available broken down by parliamentary constituency. Figures for pensioners in receipt of council tax benefit are not available prior to 2004. The available information is in the tables.:
	
		
			  Council tax benefit recipients aged 60 and over 
			   Number of recipients 
			  South Somerset district council  
			 November 2004 2,350 
			 November 2005 2,200 
			   
			  Somerset  
			 November 2004 7,460 
			 November 2005 7,090 
			  Notes:  1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.  2. Caseloads have been rounded to the nearest 10.  3. Council tax benefit totals exclude any second adult rebate cases.  4. 'Aged 60 and over' is defined as benefit units where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 and over. Therefore figures will contain some claimants aged under 60 where there is a partner aged over 60 years.   Source:  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in November 2004 and November 2005.

Benefit Claimants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the percentage of housing benefit claimants renting from private landlords who had benefit shortfalls in Yeovil constituency in each year since 1997-98.

James Plaskitt: Information is not available at constituency level. The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Housing benefit private tenants( 1)  whose weekly amount of housing benefit is less than their weekly eligible rent: South West Government Office Region, May 1997 to May 2004 
			  May All housing benefit private tenants (thousand) Of which have weekly amount of housing benefit less than their weekly eligible rent (thousand) Percentage of housing benefit private tenants who have weekly amount of housing benefit less than their weekly eligible rent 
			 1997 109 30 27.6 
			 1998 101 30 29.3 
			 1999 93 27 29.2 
			 2000 86 24 27.8 
			 2001 80 21 26.5 
			 2002 76 21 27.0 
			 2003 75 20 26.0 
			 2004 78 24 30.1 
			 (1 )Private tenants exclude registered social landlords.   Notes:  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and percentages to one decimal place.  2. Figures are based on a 1 per cent sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.  3. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases.  4. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.   Source:  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 1997 to May 2004.

Benefit Claimants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on housing benefit for tenants in  (a) council properties,  (b) housing association property,  (c) registered social landlords property and  (d) private sector housing in Yeovil constituency in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available at constituency level. The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Housing benefit expenditure in South Somerset 
			  Nominal terms in  million 
			   Council properties (rent rebates)  Housing association property and registered social landlord properties  Private sector housing 
			 2000-01 outturn 0.051 14.803 4.495 
			 2001-02 outturn 0.057 15.470 4.269 
			 2002-03 outturn 0.166 17.195 4.463 
			 2003-04 outturn 0.168 15.173 4.604 
			 2004-05 provisional outturn 0.151 16.432 5.118 
		
	
	
		
			  Housing benefit expenditure in South Somerset 
			  Real terms in  million (2006-07) 
			   Council properties (rent rebates)  Housing association property and registered social landlord properties  Private sector housing 
			 2000-01 outturn 0.059 17.167 5.212 
			 2001-02 outturn 0.066 17.508 4.831 
			 2002-03 outturn 0.193 18.860 4.896 
			 2003-04 outturn 0.195 16.217 4.921 
			 2004-05 provisional outturn 0.175 17.186 5.352 
			  Notes:  1. The requested data are not available for Yeovil. However, data have been supplied in respect of South Somerset, which includes Yeovil, as the best alternative available.  2. As it is not possible to split the expenditure incurred on housing association and registered social landlord properties, a combined figure has been provided. As far as DWP is concerned, the two are synonymous.  3. All figures are in  million, rounded to the nearest thousand pounds.  4. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. data and caseload stock counts have been used to apportion rent allowance expenditure between housing association/registered social landlord property and private sector housing in the table.  5. Information has been supplied for five years beginning in 2000-01 because 2004-05 is the latest year for which outturn housing benefit expenditure is available.  6. Real terms expenditure has been calculated using Gross Domestic Product Deflators released by Her Majesty's Treasury at Budget 2006.  7. The DWP Expenditure Tables, consistent with the Budget 2006 Report, are published at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp  Source:  Information has been sourced from local authority claims for housing revenue account subsidy and housing benefit and council tax benefit subsidy.

Benefit Fraud

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what his latest estimate is of the fraud and error rate in  (a) percentage terms and  (b) cash terms in (i) attendance allowance, (ii) carer's allowance, (iii) basic state pension, (iv) bereavement benefit, (v) industrial injuries benefit, (vi) maternity allowance, (vii) severe disablement allowance, (viii) social fund, (ix) widows benefit and (x) winter fuel payments; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his latest estimate is of the monetary value of fraud and error in  (a) income support,  (b) incapacity benefit,  (c) disability living allowance,  (d) jobseeker's allowance,  (e) housing benefit,  (f) pension credit,  (g) council tax benefit,  (h) basic state pension,  (i) carer's allowance and  (j) attendance allowance; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Estimates of fraud and error in DWP benefits 
			   Fraud  Customer error  Official error  Total fraud and error 
			  Benefit   million  Percentage   million  Percentage   million  Percentage   million  Percentage 
			 Carer's allowance 40 3.9 10 0.1 10 0.6 60 5.5 
			 State pension 30 0.1 0 0.0 30 0.1 60 0.1 
			 Widows benefit / bereavement benefit n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0.0 n/a n/a 
			 Severe disablement allowance n/a n/a n/a n/a 5 0.5 n/a n/a 
			 Income support 240 2.3 110 1.1 200 1.9 550 5.3 
			 Incapacity benefit 10 0.1 20 0.2 50 0.8 80 1.2 
			 Disability living allowance 40 0.5 630 7.8 60 0.8 730 9.1 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 50 2.2 30 1.5 50 2.3 130 6.0 
			 Housing benefit 170 1.3 360 2.7 150 1.1 680 5.2 
			 Pension credit 60 1.0 90 1.5 130 2.1 280 4.6 
			 Council tax benefit 60 1.6 80 2.2 40 1.1 180 4.9 
			  Notes: 1. Monetary figures are estimates of annual overpayments rounded to the nearest 10 million. Figures in brackets are overpayments expressed as a proportion of expenditure for that benefit and are rounded to the nearest 0.1 per cent. They are based on sampling exercises and so are subject to sampling and other uncertainties. Sampling uncertainty is expressed in the form of confidence intervalsthese have not been provided in these tables. 2. Carer's allowance estimates from the 2004-05 DWP Resource Account. Fraud and error estimates from the 1996 National Benefit Review, uprated to 2004-05 expenditure. 3. State pension estimates from the 2004-05 DWP Resource Account. Fraud and customer estimates from the 1995 National Benefit Review, official error from April 2003 to March 2004, all uprated to 2004-05 expenditure. The conclusion of the more recent pilot National Benefit Review for 2005-06 was that a full review of state pension would not be carried out and another benefit should be measured instead. Results from this pilot have not been published but are available on request. 4. Widow's benefit/bereavement benefit and severe disablement allowance are measured for official error every year. 5. No fraud and error figures comparable to those for other benefits are available for attendance allowance, industrial injuries benefit, maternity allowance, social fund and winter fuel payments. 6. Income support, jobseeker's allowance and pension credit figures come from the National Statistics report Fraud and error in income support, Jobseeker's allowance and pension credit from April 2004 to March 2005: Full report, published more recently than the 2004-05 DWP Resource Account. 7. Disability living allowance fraud and error figures come from the National Statistics report Fraud, error and other incorrectness in disability living allowance covering the period 2004-05. The 'customer error' overpayment figure includes around 580 million (7.9 per cent. of DLA expenditure) which was removed when reported in the Departmental Resource Account. These were cases where the change in customer's needs may have been so gradual that it would be unreasonable to expect them to know at which point their entitlement to DLA might have changed. These cases do not result in a recoverable overpayment as we cannot quantify or define when the customer's change occurred. Because legislation requires the Secretary of State to prove that entitlement to DLA is incorrect, rather than requiring the customer to inform us that their needs have changed, cases in this subcategory are legally correct. 8. Incapacity benefit estimates from the 2004-05 DWP Resource Account. Fraud and customer error estimates from April 2000 to March 2001, official error from April 2003 to March 2004, all uprated to 2004-05 expenditure. 9. Housing benefit estimates from the National Statistics report Fraud and Error in housing benefit April 2002 to March 2005. They are made up of reviews of around 85 per cent. of HB expenditure (used for measuring performance against the relevant PSA target to reduce fraud and error in HB) combined with more approximate estimates of error in the remaining 15 per cent. of expenditure. For further details on this, please see the relevant National Statistics reports. 10. Council tax benefit estimates from the 2004-05 DWP Resource Account. Council tax benefit has not been measured by the Department and was assumed to have the same levels of fraud and error as the latest housing benefit estimates available at the time (October 2003 to September 2004). 11. State pension estimates from the 2004-05 DWP Resource Account. Fraud and customer estimates from the 1995 National Benefit Review, official error from April 2003 to March 2004, all uprated to 2004-05 expenditure. The conclusion of the more recent pilot National Benefit Review for 2005-06 was that a full review of state pension would not be carried out and another benefit should be measured instead. Results from this pilot have not been published but are available on request. 12. Carer's allowance estimates from the 2004-05 DWP Resource Account. Fraud and error estimates from the 1996 National Benefit Review, uprated to 2004-05 expenditure. 13. No fraud and error figures comparable to those for other benefits are available for attendance allowance. 
		
	
	The Department is successfully reducing overpayments through fraud and error. For example, latest National Statistics show that fraud and error in income support and jobseeker's allowance have reduced by 44 per cent. since 1998. It is our firm intention to reduce the levels of overpayment even further. To this end we have set up an Official Error Task Force and will be publishing our strategy for reducing error later in 2006.

Benefit Payments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether there is a statutory right of appeal in relation to the recovery of benefit payments where these have been generated by official error; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: There are no powers under social security legislation to recover official error overpayments. There is therefore no statutory right of appeal.

Benefit Payments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the total number of people  (a) entitled to and  (b) in receipt of (i) council tax benefit, (ii) housing benefit, (iii) pension credit and (iv) disability living allowance for each year from 1996-97 to 2005-06; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Estimates are not available for disability living allowance. The available information for the other benefits is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Estimates of eligibility and receipt of housing benefit 
			  thousand 
			   Number eligible  Number in receipt 
			 1996-97 4,750 to 5,180 4,720 
			 1997-98 4,650 to 5,010 4,540 
			 1998-99 4,520 to 4,830 4,390 
			 1999-2000 4,380 to 4,700 4,180 
			 2000-01 4,170 to 4,510 3,930 
			 2001-02 4, 190 to 4,500 3,830 
			 2002-03 4,210 to 4,490 3,790 
			 2003-04 4,210 to 4,490 3,800 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimates of eligibility and receipt of council tax benefit 
			  thousand 
			   Number eligible  Number in receipt 
			 1996-97 6,460 to 7,220 5,530 
			 1997-98 6,310 to 7,060 5,430 
			 1998-99 6,480 to 6,980 5,230 
			 1999-2000 6,270 to 6,850 4,990 
			 2000-01 6,150 to 6,700 4,700 
			 2001-02 6,370 to 6,950 4,610 
			 2002-03 6,440 to 7,020 4,570 
			 2003-04 6,810 to 7,420 4,640 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimates of eligibility and receipt of pension credit 
			  thousand 
			   Number eligible  Number in receipt 
			 2003-04 3,750 to 4,320 2,490 
			 2004-05 3,710 to 4, 190 2,570 
			  Notes:  1. Estimates of the numbers eligible are derived from estimates of the number receiving the benefit, and the number who are entitled and not receiving the benefit. These estimates are published in the Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-up series. Copies are available in the Library.  2. The latest published estimates for housing benefit and council tax benefit are for 2003-04. The latest estimates for pension credit relate to the year 2004-05.  3. The numbers receiving housing benefit and council tax benefit are based on quarterly 100 per cent. caseload counts averaged over the year. The numbers receiving pension credit are derived from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, and relate to the average number of recipients over the period.  4. Estimates of the numbers receiving are consistent with the figures used to calculate National Statistics estimates of take-up, and so exclude cases in non-private households and the full-time self-employed. Estimates presented here will therefore differ from other published sources.  5. Estimates of the numbers entitled but not receiving are sourced from the Family Resources Survey.  6. Estimates of the number eligible are presented as ranges within which it can be assumed the true figure lies. These ranges account for possible biases inherent in estimates from data that are less then perfect. The ranges also account for sampling error.  7. Estimates have been rounded to the nearest 10,000.  8. Care should be taken when interpreting changes in estimates over time because it is not possible to identify a single estimate of the number eligible. Year on year changes in the ranges do not necessarily mean that the true level has changed.  9. Estimates for pension credit relate to October 2003 to March 2004, the first six months of pension credit. Estimates have therefore been annualised in order to make them comparable across different years and benefits.  10. At present it is not possible to calculate eligibility for disability living allowance (DLA). This is because eligibility is not established until entitlement is tested (at the point of claim). The assessment of eligibility is more complex than for other benefits, involving a detailed judgement of personal care and mobility needs. An estimate of the amount of unclaimed benefit would need to test eligibility by carrying out this detailed assessment, which claimants undertake as part of the claim process with a sample of cases.

Benefits (Operating Model)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will report progress on the design of a single standard operating model across all major benefits.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking if he will report progress on the design of a single standard operating model across all major benefits. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The design of a single Standard Operating Model across all Jobcentre Plus major benefits is now nearing completion. As part of the rollout of the new Jobcentre Plus service, which is in the final phase, the standard model for people making new and repeat claims to Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance and Incapacity Benefit has been in use since January 2005. The standard model for maintaining benefit claims that are already in payment, covering the processes required to handle changes to customers' circumstances and the processes around decision making and appeals, was introduced in the first Benefit Delivery Centre in April 2006. This process will become mandatory in all Benefit Delivery Centres as they are rolled out as part of the Centralisation of the Benefit Processing programme.
	The Social Fund component of the Standard Operating Model will be introduced in September 2006 and then rolled out across the organisation as centralised Benefit Delivery Centres are put in place.
	I hope this is helpful.

Best Ltd.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the extent to which Best Ltd. has the capacity to deliver the New Deal Programme in Leeds and West Yorkshire from 1 July;
	(2)  why Leeds city council was not informed of the decision to award the new deal contract to another contractor in sufficient time to allow it to put in place the statutory staff consultation process;
	(3)  what criteria were used in the process to award the contract from 1 July for the new deal scheme in the Leeds area; and what criteria Leeds city council did not meet.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 4 July 2006
	Best Ltd. are a well-established Leeds based provider who have successfully delivered for Jobcentre Plus for a number of years throughout West Yorkshire. They won this contract through a fair and open competition.
	The contracts with Leeds city council (LCC) were extended on 13 February 2006 with a termination date of 30 June 2006. LCC were therefore aware in February 2006 that these contracts would terminate naturally at the end of June. This gave LCC sufficient time to deal with all issues connected with termination, including statutory consultation with staff.
	All bids for this contract were subject to a rigorous assessment process in line with normal procurement rules, which have been applied nationally. The criteria and score weightings were published as part of the tendering documentation made available to all bidders, and included: previous experience of delivery of this type of provision; track record of delivery; experience and track record of sub contractors to be used; organisation, infrastructure, management and capacity to deliver.
	Leeds city council did not bid for the new contract. They offered themselves as a sub-contractor to Pelcombe, a private sector bidder, whose tender submission did not succeed in winning the competition.

Cancer Patients

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the special rules gateway in ensuring all terminal cancer patients receive the  (a) disability living allowance and  (b) attendance allowance benefits to which they are entitled;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the numbers of terminally ill cancer patients who received  (a) disability living allowance and  (b) attendance allowance in 2005-06.

Anne McGuire: The purpose of the 'special rules' is to help terminally ill people who are not expected to live longer than six months to receive the immediate payment of the higher rate attendance allowance or the highest rate care component of disability living allowance without the need to meet the normal entitlement conditions. They do this effectively. At any one time in the 12 months ending on 30 November 2005, around 62,000 people whose main disabling condition is recorded as malignant disease were receiving higher rate attendance allowance or the highest rate care component of disability living allowance under the 'special rules'(1).
	(1 )Source: DWP 5 per cent. sample data

Cancer Patients

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications from terminally ill cancer patients for  (a) disability living allowance and  (b) attendance allowance were unsuccessful in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many and what percentage subsequently appealed successfully in each year.

Anne McGuire: The requested information is not available. Details are not kept about the nature of the medical condition of people whose claims to attendance allowance or disability living allowance are unsuccessful, or about the nature of the medical condition of people taking their cases to appeal.

Child Poverty

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether any new strategies are being implemented to reach child poverty targets.

Jim Murphy: Our long-term strategy to meet our targets is set out in Opportunity for all and in the Child Poverty Review, published alongside the 2004 Spending Review White Paper. It is based on:
	Work for those who can, helping parents participate in the labour market;
	Financial support for families, with more support for those who need it most, when they need it most; and
	Delivering excellent public services that improve poor children's life chances and help break cycles of deprivation.
	Our strategy has been successful in reversing the trend of rising child poverty and has resulted in 700,000 fewer children living in relative low-income. This represents significant progress towards the 2010 target to halve child poverty.
	We remain firmly committed to the challenging goals to halve and then eradicate child poverty. Our strategy for meeting the 2010 target consists of a further reinforcement of our labour market policies complemented by increases in financial transfers through tax credits, and further improvements in public services. We will also continue working across central Government, and together with the devolved Administrations, local government and the voluntary and community sector to ensure that progress is maintained. We are currently re-examining our strategy for meeting the 2010 target, including a reinforcement of our labour market policies, complemented by increases in tax credits, and further improvements in public services.
	We launched our Welfare Reform Green Paper, A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work, in January 2006. In it we proposed a number of initiatives to help families who are at the highest risk of being in poverty. We have set out how we will help lone parents, disabled people and older workers to return to work; the surest way of escaping poverty. It also sets out proposals for piloting new initiatives to help local partners work together to improve economic regeneration through skills, employment and health. Each area will be asked to develop a consortium comprising local partners with a shared interest in working together to raise employment rates and improve the economy. This may include local authorities, employers, learning and skills councils, regional development agencies, primary care trusts and Jobcentre Plus. The key aim of this initiative will be to provide a solution that offers the maximum degree of flexibility, so that local areas can provide local solutions to local problems.
	In April 2006, the child element of the child tax credit was increased in line with earnings to 1,765 per year, an increase of 320 since its introduction in April 2003, and 75 above the 2004-05 rate. Budget 2006 announced that the child element would continue to rise at least in line with earnings until the end of this Parliament. This will provide a solid foundation for halving child poverty. Child benefit has been increased by 26 per cent. in real terms since 1997. Budget 2006 also set out a number of measures to help parents into work, provide further resources for education and to encourage employer provision of child care.
	Finally, I recently announced the appointment of Lisa Marker as an independent adviser to help us achieve our target of eradicating child poverty by 2020. She will advise on new possible approaches to what is our number one priority.

Child Support Agency

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of delays in the transfer of old cases to the new system by the Child Support Agency on progress towards the Government's child poverty reduction targets;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the failures of the new computer system at the Child Support Agency on the Government's ability to meet its poverty reduction target; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Child Support Agency contributes to the Government's wider target for the reduction of child poverty through a supporting target to increase the proportion of parents with care on income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance who receive maintenance for their children.
	Although achievement of this target is dependent on the successful conversion of old scheme cases onto the new scheme, we have always said that no decision will be taken on when to do this until we are confident that the new scheme is working well. In February 2006, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State commissioned Sir David Henshaw to undertake a fundamental redesign of child support policy and delivery mechanisms and he will deliver his findings this summer.

Child Support Agency

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average bonus payment to the 10 most highly paid civil servants in  (a) the Pensions Service,  (b) the Child Support Agency and  (c) Jobcentre Plus was in 2004-05.

Anne McGuire: The average bonus payment to the 10 most highly paid civil servants in  (a) the Pensions Service  (b) the Child Support Agency and  (c) Jobcentre Plus in 2004-05 was:
	
		
			
			  (a) The Pension Service 4,741 
			  (b) The Child Support Agency 3,721 
			  (c) Jobcentre Plus 8,494

Child Support Agency

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of the review of the Child Support System being carried out by Sir David Henshaw.

James Plaskitt: The Henshaw redesigns estimated total costs between February 2006 and July 2006 will be as follows:
	
		
			  Cost of:  Amount () 
			 Sir David Henshaw's time 54,000 
			 Henshaw's redesign secretariat staffing 200,000 
			 Henshaw's redesign non-staff costs and publication (1)75,000 
			 Henshaw's redesign research/consultation 50,000 
			 (1) Up to.   Note:  Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000. 
		
	
	The DWP also meets the costs of general office overheads for example accommodation, IT etc. These costs are not separately identifiable from DWP running costs.

Child Support Agency

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what facilities are available to the Child Support Agency to verify a non-residential parent's  (a) address and  (b) working arrangements.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what facilities are available to the Child Support Agency to verify a non-residential parent's  (a) address and  (b) working arrangements.
	The Child Support Agency is able to verify a non-resident parent's address using the Departmental Central Index and Customer Information System computer records. If necessary we can also approach the appropriate Local Authority to provide any address information held for council tax purposes. From July we anticipate that this will also include access to credit reference agency data for trace purposes and later this year we will begin to use external suppliers to help trace clients. The Agency compliance officers can visit a non-resident parent at the address where the non-resident parent is thought to be residing to confirm the address details.
	In relation to verification of the Non Resident Parents working arrangements, the Agency is able to issue requests for employment details to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. This provides information from P45/46 and P14 records, National Insurance records and Tax credit records (where there is an indication that New Tax Credits are in payment). The Agency can also check with the clients employer where known.
	If appropriate the Agency can use inspectors to visit business premises in pursuit of relevant information.
	I hope you find this helpful.

Cohabitation

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the potential impact on the Child Support Agency of the Law Commission's proposals on the rights of cohabiting couples; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: We look forward to the outcome of the consultation. Unlike other legislation child support law does not distinguish between married and unmarried parents.

Community Care Grants

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many community care grants enabling homeless prison leavers to buy a tent and sleeping bag were awarded by Jobcentre Plus in 2005;
	(2)  what system is in place to ensure that homeless prison leavers who receive a community care grant from Jobcentre Plus for a sleeping bag and tent spend that grant for that purpose.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 12 June 2006
	The information requested is not available.
	When a customer applies for a community care grant for an item or items and is subsequently awarded a grant no further check is made to ascertain whether the customer actually used the award to obtain the items requested. It is the responsibility of the customer to use the grant appropriately.
	Exceptionally, where the Decision Maker has evidence that the award may not be used for its intended purpose, for example from information held on departmental systems or from a case worker involved in the case, then the Decision Maker has the power under Sections 138(3) and 139(5) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 to make payment to a third party who can provide, or arrange for the provision of, the items covered by the award.

Correspondence

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to the letter on widowers' claims sent to him by Guy Dodd Solicitors on 14 June.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 27 June 2006
	The letter of 14 June from Guy Dodd Solicitors addressed to The Widowers Litigation Department was answered by Jobcentre Plus Bereavement Benefits on 29 June 2006.

Council Tax Benefit

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the take-up rate of council tax benefit was in  (a) Edinburgh, West constituency and  (b) other Edinburgh parliamentary constituencies in each year since 1996-97; and how many pensioners (i) were entitled to and (ii) received council tax benefit in each year.

James Plaskitt: Estimates of take-up and entitlement for Council Tax Benefit are not available below national level; the latest available information is in Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take Up in 2003-04, a copy of which is in the Library.
	Figures for the number of council tax benefit claimants are not available broken down by parliamentary constituency. Figures for pensioners in receipt of council tax benefit are not available prior to 2004. The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Council tax benefit recipients aged 60 and over: Edinburgh city council 
			  November  Number 
			 2004 18,450 
			 2005 17,490 
			  Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. Caseloads have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Council tax benefit totals exclude any second adult rebate cases. 4. 'Aged 60 and over' is defined as benefit units where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 and over. Therefore figures will contain some claimants aged under 60 where there is a partner aged over 60 years.  Source:  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in November 2004 and November 2005.

Credit Unions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will provide information and membership forms for credit unions to its employees.

Anne McGuire: The Government welcome the contribution made by the various savings institutions in providing for greater choice and diversity in the financial services sector.
	The Government's guiding principles are to ensure impartiality and to help create a level playing field for all providers of financial services in order that their specific attributes can be properly harnessed.
	It would be inconsistent for a Government Department to favour credit unions above other financial institutions and I therefore do not plan to provide information and membership forms for credit unions to employees of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
	DWP employees are of course free to join in credit unions if they meet their relevant membership criteria. DWP will consider what levels of support would be appropriate should its employees wish to set up a credit union.

Departmental Decision Making Standards Committee

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what role the Departmental Decision Making Standards Committee will play in monitoring  (a) qualitative and  (b) quantitative aspects of service; and if he will make a statement on the membership and frequency of meeting of this Committee.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions Decision Making Standards Committee ('the Committee') monitors the standards of decision making on benefit issues in Jobcentre Plus, The Pension Service and the Disability and Carers' Service. The Committee has three key objectives:
	To provide independent advice on the accuracy of reports on the standard of benefit decision making
	To identify, and make recommendations on, the areas where standards can be improved
	To conduct additional inquiries deemed to affect decision making standards at the discretion of the chief executives.
	The Committee has five independent members including the chairperson. Formal meetings of the Committee are held not less than three times a year. Working meetings of members are held when required.

Departmental Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on refreshments in each year since 1997.

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on entertainment by his Department in 2004-05; and how much of that sum was accounted for by  (a) food,  (b) alcohol,  (c) staff and  (d) accommodation.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment including the Employment Service. Therefore it is not possible to provide information prior to that date. Such information as is available is provided as follows.
	Expenditure on refreshments is taken to include working breakfasts or lunches, refreshments at meetings, as well as official hospitality and is incurred in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.
	
		
			  Expenditure on refreshments( 1) 
			  DWP   
			 2002-03 2,262,000 
			 2003-04 2,254,000 
			 2004-05 2,256,000 
			 (1) Rounded to nearest 000

Departmental Finance Directors

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the  (a) name,  (b) professional and academic qualifications and  (c) relevant experience are of the finance director of his Department.

Anne McGuire: The finance director general for the Department for Work and Pensions is John Codling. He is a chartered public finance accountant and holds a BA (Hons) degree in Economics. His career includes senior appointments in local government, a regional health authority, and he was director of finance at the Funding Agency for Schools. John Codling joined the Benefits Agency as finance director in April 1998. He was subsequently appointed the DSS finance director in May 2000 and then finance director general for DWP in December 2001 following an external competition.

Departmental Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his practice is regarding meeting, discussions with and taking into account the views and opinions of  (a) private individuals and  (b) representatives of organisations when drawing up and framing legislation to be introduced by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions always seeks a full range of views when drawing up and framing legislation. Consultation is a key part of the policy-making processboth informal and formal. The Department holds regular meetings with representatives of the principal stakeholder groups for our policy areas and with relevant experts.
	Organisations and individuals can also contribute to the Department's formal consultations, which abide by the code of practice on consultation. Our regular stakeholder contacts are alerted to the fact that a formal consultation is taking place. As required by the code, the Department then gives feedback on the responses received and on how the consultation process influenced the policy decision.
	Recently, there has been extensive consultation, with both individual members of the public and stakeholder organisations, about both pensions reform and welfare reform proposals, supplementing the formal consultative papers with both meetings, and online opportunities to comment on the proposals.

Departmental Websites

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many websites there are within his responsibilities; and what the total cost of maintaining such websites was in the last year for which figures are available.

James Purnell: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is responsible for 21 websites. These were listed in PQ/06/65209 and in the following tables.
	Table A lists those websites operated by Department for Work and Pensions where
	we are responsible for the content.
	
		
			  Table A: 
			  Website Name  Website Address  Contracted and quantifiable costs () 
			 Department for Work and Pensions www.dwp.gov.uk  
			 Jobcentre Plus www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk 106,500 
			 The Pensions Service www.thepensionservice.gov.uk 182,000 
			 Child Support Agency www.csa.gov.uk 31,000 
			 Directgov Disabled People and Carers www.direct.gov.uk/disabilitv 500,000 
			 Sections www.direct.gov.uk/carers  
			 Directgov Over 50s Section www.direct.gov.uk/over50s 145,553 
			 Age Positive www.agepositive.gov.uk  
			 Employment Zones www.employmentzones.gov.uk  
			 Benefit Fraud Inspectorate www.bfi.gov.uk  
			 Office for Disability Issues www.officefordisability.gov.uk  
			 European Social Fund www.esf.gov.uk 41,000 
			 Total Table A  1,006,053 
			  Notes:  1 Production, management and maintenance of DWP websites is carried out by the Department's own in-house E-Communications team. It is not possible to quantify internal costs for each site but contracted and quantifiable costs have been included where possible.  2 Contracted and quantifiable costs include payments to suppliers for services such as research, user testing and site builds, and payments to interim personnel.  3 Departmental sites are hosted by our IT contractors. In most cases it is not possible to separate these costs from contracted costs. 
		
	
	Table B lists those websites operated by the Department for Work and Pensions but where we are not responsible for the content.
	
		
			  Table B 
			  Website Name  Website Address  Contracted and quantifiable costs 
			 Disability Employment Advisory Committee www.deac.org.uk  
			 Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board www.dlaab.org.uk  
			 Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force www.emetaskforce.gov.uk  
			 Independent Case Examiner www.ind-case-exam.org.uk  
			 Industrial Injuries Advisory Council www.iiac.org.uk  
			 National Employment Panel www.nationalemploymentpanel.gov.uk  
			 Employer Task Force www.employertaskforce.org.uk (1) 
			 Pensions At Work www.pensionsatwork.org (1) 
			 Pensions Commission www.pensionscommission.org.uk (1) 
			 Social Security Advisory Committee www.ssac.org.uk  
			 Total Table B  0 
			 (1 )The cost for these three sites is included in the figure for the Pension Service site in Table A  Notes:  1 Production, management and maintenance of DWP websites is carried out by the Department's own in-house E-Communications team. It is not possible to quantify internal costs for each site but contracted and quantifiable costs have been included where possible.  2 Contracted and quantifiable costs include payments to suppliers for services such as research, user testing and site builds, and payments to interim personnel.  3 Departmental sites are hosted by our IT contractors. In most cases it is not possible to separate these costs from contracted costs 
		
	
	Table C shows the total running costs for the 21 websites
	
		
			  Table C 
			
			 Total Table A 1,006,053 
			 Total Table B 0 
			 Total 1,006,053 
		
	
	The following special points should be noted:
	1. The Department is continuing to develop services on-line. The website costs do not include the development of e-services, and is restricted to website costs, which provide the user access. Online services may require development of 'back office' processes and redevelopment of the department's legacy' systems.
	2. There have been a number of similar/related PQs since 2002.

Departmental Websites

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total set-up costs were of the Targeting Fraud website; and what its total running costs have been in each year.

James Plaskitt: There are no separately quantifiable set-up or running costs for the site, which was developed internally by the Department's in-housee-communications team.

Deposited Papers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to make copies of deposited papers available in  (a) the Vote Office and  (b) Printed Paper Office at the same time as copies are deposited in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House of Commons on 3 July 2006,  Official Report, column 729W.

Disability Benefits

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the eligibility criteria for claimants of disability benefits, including disability living allowance and incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: Disability living allowance is paid as a contribution towards the extra, disability-related costs incurred by severely disabled people. It is a tax free, non income related benefit. It is available to those who claim before the age of 65.
	As part of a wide range of support that the Government makes available to older people, attendance allowance provides equivalent help to people who experience the onset of disability after age 65.
	There are no plans to review the eligibility conditions for disability living allowance or attendance allowance.

Disability Living Allowance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to reduce the level of  (a) fraud and  (b) error in relation to disability living allowance; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Disability and Carers Service (DCS), the agency responsible for administering disability living allowance (DLA), is committed to reducing fraud and error in DLA.
	All allegations of benefit fraud are carefully considered and, where appropriate, referred for investigation to the Fraud Investigation Service.
	DLA cases are subject to a periodic inquiry process. This process has led to over 100,000 case interventions since its introduction in 1999. The periodic inquiry process has recently been refocused to target those cases with the highest propensity for change to ensure that these cases are correct.
	DCS is currently testing an improved Customer Case Management (CCM) system. CCM is structured, IT-based support for decision-making, enabling greater consistency in both the outcome of decisions and in the level and length of awards.
	DCS is also reviewing the DLA checking regime. This ensures the standard and quality of DLA/AA decision making across the agency.

Disability Living Allowance

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many individuals diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis who failed to qualify for disability living allowance appealed against the decision in  (a) 2003,  (b) 2004 and  (c) 2005;
	(2)  how many individuals diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis applied but failed to qualify for disability living allowance in  (a) 2003,  (b) 2004 and  (c) 2005.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 6 July 2006
	The requested information is not available. Details are not kept about the nature of the medical condition of people whose claims to attendance allowance or disability living allowance are unsuccessful, or about the nature of the medical condition of people taking their cases to appeal.

Disability Living Allowance

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Wakefield include a person with a learning disability who receives the care component of disability living allowance at the  (a) highest,  (b) middle and  (c) lowest rate.

Anne McGuire: The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Terry Moran:
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in Wakefield include a person with a learning disability who receives the care component of disability living allowance at the  (a) highest  (b) middle and  (c) lowest rate.
	The Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP, promised you a substantive reply from the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service.
	The information available is in the following table:
	
		
			  Recipients of disability living allowance with learning difficulties by rate of care award as at November 2005 in Wakefield parliamentary constituency 
			  Care component  
			 Total with care component 380 
			 Higher rate 110 
			 Middle rate 90 
			 Lowest rate 180 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory. 4. Figures are based on the care component condition only.  Source:  DWP, WPLS 100 per cent. data. 
		
	
	I hope this is helpful.

Disabled Persons' Scooters

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance is available to disabled persons for obtaining a disabled person's scooter; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: Disability living allowance (DLA) provides a contribution towards the extra costs faced by severely disabled people as a result of their disabilities. The higher rate mobility component of DLA is paid to disabled people who are unable or virtually unable to walk.
	The Motability Scheme enables disabled persons to use their mobility component towards obtaining a disabled person's powered wheelchair or scooter. The scheme provides scooters in return for some or all of a customer's higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance or war pensioner's mobility supplement. Customers are able to choose from an extensive range of powered wheelchairs and scooters and 200 accredited dealer specialists provide further advice as part of an overall assessment process to obtain the right product to best meet a person's mobility needs. There are currently 6,300 customers using this scheme.
	The scheme is overseen by Motability, an independent not-for-profit charity, operating at arms length from this Department and overseen by a board of governors.

Employment, Hartlepool

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to increase employment in Hartlepool constituency since 1997.

Jim Murphy: Latest figures show that there are more people in work than ever before. Employment now stands at 28.9 million, up by just over 2.5 million since 1997. More than 1.5 million people have been helped into work through our New Deal programmes, including more than 4,200 people in Hartlepool, and our successful labour market policies have contributed to the virtual eradication of long term youth unemployment, fewer people out of work, and fewer people on inactive benefits. In Hartlepool, the numbers of people claiming incapacity benefits has fallen by 14 per cent .since 1997 and the numbers claiming lone parent benefit by 31 per cent. Long term youth unemployment has fallen by 75 per cent.
	Despite progress over the last eight years there remain pockets of persistent low employment, and tackling worklessness and inactivity, particularly among those on benefits, remains our top priority. Our successful Pathways to Work programme which has already achieved more than 21,000 job entries, including 50 in Tees Valley, will be extended to every part of Britain by 2008 and we will be investing a further 360 million on our welfare reform green paper proposals over the next two years.
	Some of the most disadvantaged areas, including Hartlepool, have been asked to submit expressions of interest for our Cities Strategy initiative which will ensure that those still most disadvantaged in the labour market receive the help and guidance they need. This strategy fits with our wider aims of moving towards an 80 per cent. employment rate and reducing child poverty, by addressing the localised pockets of worklessness across Great Britain. It aims to deliver a significant improvement in the working age employment rate, particularly for disadvantaged groups.

Housing Benefit

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which the  (a) best performing and  (b) worst performing council, in respect of the level of housing benefit (i) overpayment and (ii) fraud was in 2005-06; and what assessment he has made of the performance of Luton council in each case.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Detected overpayments of housing benefit by local authority, 2004-05 
			   Local authority  Weekly overpayment () 
			 Lowest level of detected overpayment West Devon 4 
			 Highest level of detected overpayment Hart 278 
			  Luton 83 
			  Source:  Local authority data returns to DWP. 
		
	
	Information is not available on local authority performance in respect of the level of housing benefit overpayments and fraud present in their caseload, since it is not possible to estimate with sufficient confidence the amount of undetected fraud and error at local authority level.

Housing Benefit

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to collect information on the cost of housing benefit paid to households renting properties formerly owned by local authorities.

James Plaskitt: We are currently looking at the information we collect and considering the feasibility of various options. Were it feasible, the earliest date that any such additional information could be collected would be April 2007.

Housing Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of housing benefit was in each year from 1985-86 at 2004-05 prices; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Housing benefit expenditure in Great Britain, Real Terms 2004-05 prices 
			million 
			 1985-86 (1) 6,274 
			 1986-87 (1) 6,536 
			 1987-88 (1) 6,411 
			 1988-89 (1) 6,367 
			 1989-90 (1) 6,736 
			 1990-91 (1) 7,491 
			 1991-92 (1) 8,804 
			 1992-93 (1) 10,479 
			 1993-94 (1) 12,053 
			 1994-95 (1) 13,012 
			 1995-96 (1) 13,624 
			 1996-97 (1) 13,768 
			 1997-98 (1) 13,134 
			 1998-99 (1) 12,675 
			 1999-2000 (1) 12,431 
			 2000-01 (1) 12,381 
			 2001-02 (1) 12,518 
			 2002-03 (1) 13,232 
			 2003-04 (1) 12,596 
			 2004-05 (1) 13,145 
			 2005-06 (2) 13,698 
			 (1) outturn (2) estimated outturn  Note:  Figures are consistent with Budget 2006.  Source: DWP benefit expenditure tables and historic information.

Housing Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been in receipt of housing benefit in each year from 1985-86; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The housing benefit scheme was reformed in April 1988. Information for the old scheme is not available. The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Housing benefit recipients in Great Britain each November 1988 to 2005 
			   Number 
			 1988 3,934,000 
			 1989 3,889,000 
			 1990 3,925,000 
			 1991 4,155,000 
			 1992 4,381,970 
			 1993 4,628,110 
			 1994 4,710,860 
			 1995 4,759,860 
			 1996 4,709,820 
			 1997 4,546,650 
			 1998 4,382,390 
			 1999 4,147,870 
			 2000 3,900,620 
			 2001 3,818,400 
			 2002 3,796,260 
			 2003 3,806,590 
			 2004 3,943,900 
			 2005 3,975,230 
			  Notes: 1. Figures for 1988 to 1991 are rounded to the nearest thousand and figures from 1992 onwards have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Housing benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.  Source:  Social Security Statistics 1993. Housing Benefit and council tax benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in November 1992 to 2005.

Incapacity Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals in  (a) Yeovil constituency,  (b) Somerset and  (c) the south west are claiming (i) short-term and (ii) long-term incapacity benefit.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) claimants in the Yeovil parliamentary constituency, Somerset and the south-west at 30 IB credits  November 2005. 
			   All IB/SDA  IB short term (lower)  IB short term (higher)  IB long term  IB credits  SDA 
			 Yeovil constituency 3,470 150 130 1,720 990 480 
			
			  Somerset county local authorities 18,510 760 730 8,960 5,490 2,570 
			 Mendip 3,600 170 150 1,610 1,230 440 
			 Sedgemoor 4,520 190 180 2,280 1,220 650 
			 South Somerset 4,840 210 200 2,430 1,350 670 
			 Taunton Deane 4,030 140 150 1,880 1,260 610 
			 West Somerset 1,520 50 50 780 430 200 
			
			  Somerset unitary authorities: 13,210 490 480 5,930 4,880 1,420 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 5,120 190 200 2,180 2,010 540 
			 North Somerset 8,090 300 280 3,750 2,870 880 
			 South West GOR 195,020 7,330 7,440 89,090 66,900 24,260 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding.  2. 'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance, including incapacity benefit credits only cases.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data.

Incapacity Benefit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the findings of reviews of the work pension abatement threshold within incapacity benefit since 1999;
	(2)  what progress he has made in ensuring that the work pension abatement threshold for incapacity benefit is increased and does not erode savings.

Anne McGuire: We have no current plans to change the threshold at which income from an occupational pension or personal pension is taken into account in assessing incapacity benefit, although, as with all social security rules, this will be kept under review.
	The incapacity benefit pension income rule was introduced for new claims from April 2001. The threshold of 85 was set so that only people with above average pensions would be affected by the change.
	The position was last considered in detail in October 2004. At that time, statistics showed that around one-fifth of people on incapacity benefit had an occupational pension and that the median pension income was 72.00 per week.

Incapacity Benefit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value of the work pension abatement threshold for incapacity benefits was in each year since 1999; and what the estimated value for each year would have been had the threshold been uprated in line with inflation since 1999.

Anne McGuire: The occupational or personal pensions threshold of 85 was introduced in April 2001.
	Information on what the threshold would be if it had been uprated by the RPI from 2001 is in the table.
	
		
			  Occupational or personal pensions threshold if uprated by  RPI from 2001 
			  September  Amount () 
			 2001 85.00 
			 2002 86.45 
			 2003 88.87 
			 2004 91.62 
			 2005 94.09 
			 2006 96.35

Incapacity Benefit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the total value of incapacity benefit claimants' savings  (a) which would have been protected if the work pension abatement threshold had been uprated in line with inflation in each year since 1999 and  (b) which have been protected at the level at which the threshold has remained at since 1999.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available. No details of incapacity benefit claimants' savings are held.

Incapacity Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants whom Pathways to Work has placed in work were helped by private and voluntary sector organisations working in conjunction with JobCentre Plus.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 24 May 2006
	The New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) is offered as part of the Pathways to Work Choices package and is delivered through a network of job brokers from the private and voluntary sector who are contracted to help customers find, secure and sustain paid employment.
	Between October 2003 and February 2006; 22,350 individuals have been helped into work through Pathways to Work, of which, 5,070 (22.7 per cent.) were helped by a New Deal for Disabled People Job Broker.
	From 7 February 2005 those existing IB customers who started an incapacity benefit IB claim (excluding Personal Capability Assessment exempt cases) in the two years before the Pathways pilots started have been subject to three additional mandatory Work Focused Interviews (WFIs).
	Between 7 February 2005 and the end of February 2006, the mandatory extension of Pathways has helped 980 individuals into work, of which, 260 (26.5 per cent.) were helped by an NDDP Job Broker.
	The delivery of the mandatory extension to IB customers takes three months to complete and we would expect to see more people entering work in the months after this process. Therefore the latest available performance information does not yet give a true reflection of performance.
	 Note:
	Pathways to Work data and data for the extension to existing customers is to February 2006.

Job Vacancies

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies were listed at Jobcentre Plus in Yeovil constituency in each year since 1997.

Jim Murphy: Information on Jobcentre Plus vacancy data at parliamentary constituency level are only available from April 2004 and is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Yeovil parliamentary constituency 
			  Period  Vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus  Average number of 'live' unfilled vacancies on any given day 
			 2004 (from April) 3,670 1,100 
			 2005 4,630 850 
			  Note:  Figures have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 10.   Source:  Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System.

Jobcentre Plus

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) national and  (b) local targets have been set for Jobcentre Plus Contact Centre performance; and what data have been recorded to measure performance against such targets over the last two years.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what (a) national and (b) local targets have been set for Jobcentre Plus Contact Centre performance and what data has been recorded to measure performance against such targets over the last two years. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus contact centres report against two national Jobcentre Plus targets:
	Job Entry TargetThis target is the measure of our success in helping people in to work. Points are allocated according to the customer's priority group. A higher points score is awarded for our harder to help customer groups. Contact Centres contribute to this target through a dedicated telephone service provided by Jobseeker Direct.
	Customer Service TargetThis measures Jobcentre Plus' performance in meeting the standards and commitments set out in the organisation's customer and employer charters. An independent company assess performance against these standards by conducting mystery shopping surveys over the telephone.
	Contact Centres are responsible for Jobseekers Direct and the contribution that service makes to the overall performance targets. In 2004/05 the Contact Centre target was 885,870 points, performance was 32% below profile with 602,295 points being achieved. In 2005/06 the target was 707,187 points, performance was 9% below profile, with 643,615 points being achieved.
	For 2004/05, there were a number of factors that contributed to the Contact Centres network (Jobcentre Plus Direct) failing to achieve the Job Entry Target;
	New staff were recruited and had to be trained. There was a dip in performance whilst these staff became fully effective.
	Some slippage in the rollout of the new Jobcentre Plus model meant that, for a limited period, job entries were captured at Jobcentres instead of through the contact centre network.
	In 2004/05 Contact Centres exceeded the target for Customer Service achieving 84% against a target of 81.6%. In 2005/06 performance dipped to 62.4% against a target of 81.2%. This was the result of the difficulties Jobcentre Plus Contact Centres experienced in responding to customer calls during the summer months of 2005. Robust plans were put in place to improve levels of customer service and as you know 96% of calls made to our First Contact service i.e. customers calling to make new claims to working age benefits, are now answered. This has resulted in significant improvements in the Customer Service target in recent months, with a reported 74.2% achieved in Quarter 3 and 80.8% in Quarter 4.
	In addition to contributing to the two national performance targets, Contact Centre performance data is collected and measured through a set of internal Key Management Indicators. This information is collected on a centre-by-centre basis, as well as nationally, allowing Jobcentre Plus to continually monitor performance.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action is being taken to stabilise the performance of Jobcentre Plus.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what action is being taken to stabilise the performance of Jobcentre Plus. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	During 2005-2006, Jobcentre Plus worked to a set of challenging objectives, including a commitment to improve the ease with which our customers could access our services, and to increase the numbers of people moving into work.
	Performance against job entry targets was closely monitored throughout the year at all levels of the business and improvement plans were initiated where any delivery unit fell below agreed standards. A job entry national action plan was introduced in September 2005 to address the shortfall in job entry performance in three main areas:
	improving adviser performancemanagers were advised how to improve adviser productivity and individual adviser improvement plans were implemented to support advisers;
	increasing Jobcentre Plus access to vacanciesa national campaign publicising Jobcentre Plus services to targeted employers was launched; and
	process managementfor example senior management monitored progress against the plan on a weekly basis.
	These measures will be further reinforced by the new Job Outcome Target, implemented nationally on 10 April following a pilot phase which ran from January 2005, which reduces the administration burden of the previous target so allowing staff to focus more attention on delivering the jobseeker's allowance interventions and the job outcomes that flow from them.
	It is true that a number of Contact Centres experienced some difficulties in maintaining service levels during the summer of 2005. Immediate steps were taken to tackle the problems, through the recruitment and training of staff coupled with some process and management adjustments. These measures have allowed us to bring performance back towards expected levels and the network is now delivering sustained performance with almost 95 per cent. of all calls being answered.
	Jobcentre Plus has learned from its experience of Contact Centre management, in particular on forecasting demand and ensuring that sufficient staffing is in place to deal with that demand. These were implemented successfully to meet the expected peak of claims in January 2006.
	In addition, we have put action in hand to address temporary delays in processing claims, occurring in the wake of individual elements of the restructuring of Jobcentre Plus, including the launch of a National Action Plan on 30 January. Senior Operational Managers provided a formal assurance at the end of February that they were complying with all elements of the National Action Plan. To support the action plan, the Key Management Indicators which monitored Actual Average Clearance Times in 2005-06 have been converted to specific Jobcentre Plus Targets for 2006-07 .
	I believe that, during 2005-06, Jobcentre Plus again proved itself to be a strong delivery organisation. We have met the challenges we faced last year and we go into the next operational year a stronger organisation with clear plans to deliver our performance targets.

Jobcentre Plus

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will announce the provisional allocation of his Department's early release money for 2007-08 to Jobcentre Plus and other departmental businesses.

Jim Murphy: In line with previous years, it is proposed that an indicative allocation of early release funding will be shared with Jobcentre Plus and the other departmental businesses in December 2006.

Jobcentre Plus

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what data is  (a) collated and  (b) published on the performance of each Jobcentre Plus district.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what data is (a) collated and (b) published on the performance of each Jobcentre Plus district. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Collated information on Jobcentre Plus district performance is published quarterly on the Jobcentre Plus website (www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk). The most recent data is for the period ending 31 March 2006 and consists of performance against:
	the Job Entry target, which measures performance in helping people into work;
	the Customer Service target which helps us to measure our service to all our customers; and
	the Employer Outcome target, which measures how quickly and effectively employers' recruitment needs are met.
	From 1 April 2006 the Job Entry target was replaced by the Job Outcome target. From 1 April 2006 we also introduced the Average Actual Clearance Times target to measure and monitor how long it takes to process benefit claims for Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support and Incapacity Benefit. Clearance times performance in respect of each of our Benefit Delivery Centres will be available on the Jobcentre Plus website during the summer.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that more staff in Jobcentres are trained to deal with clients suffering from mental illness.

Anne McGuire: All Jobcentre Plus staff who work directly with customers are provided with training and development during the first three months in their role to ensure they deal professionally with all customers including those with a mental illness.
	Specifically, for dealing with customers with a mental illness, we have developed a two day learning event, with the co-operation of specialist organisations such as MIND, for all Advisers to equip them with the specialist skills they need.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the introduction of strengthened fortnightly job reviews for jobseeker's allowance claimants.

James Plaskitt: The 2006 Budget announced the introduction of strengthened Fortnightly Job Reviews (FJRs). These put greater emphasis on claimants to show that they are fulfilling their responsibilities by being available for and actively seeking work.
	Discussing with claimants what they have done to find work has always been a regular feature of FJRs. The more people look for work, the greater their chances of success.
	However, following significant investment in the modernization of Jobcentre Plus services, people now have faster, easier access to jobs through, for example Jobseeker Direct (our telephone-based job search and matching service) and the Internet. As a consequence, proportionately more time at fortnightly jobsearch reviews can now be used to check people are actively seeking work and making best use of all available vacancy sources and to take action, including possible benefit sanction, against those who appear not to be fulfilling their responsibilities. Matching and submitting people to jobs will still be a feature of some jobsearch reviews, primarily for those who appear to need more help in identifying and applying for jobs.
	The strengthened FJR is also supported by a revised and simplified Jobseeker's Agreement, which sets out individual job goals and responsibilities, and by a revised interview after 13 weeks on JSA. The 13 Week Review will ensure that claimants are prepared to take any suitable job from then on (some restriction to any usual occupation is permitted until that point) and that where previous jobsearch appears insufficient or ineffective they are submitted to suitable vacancies to test their continued eligibility for JSA.

Judicial Review

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what occasions an  (a) individual and  (b) organisation has applied for a judicial review of decisions of his Department in each year since 1997; and what the outcome was of each case where proceedings have been completed.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Long-term Unemployed

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is for involving the long-term unemployed in service to the community.

James Plaskitt: The valuable contribution voluntary work or paid participation in regeneration work can make to the community and the potential benefit it can bring for the individual is recognised by the Government. Such participation can help unemployed people to keep in touch with the labour market and enable them to develop skills and experience, with the possibility that it may help them find paid employment.
	Jobseekers can do unlimited voluntary work without it affecting their benefit, as long as the usual entitlement conditions are met. Cases are decided on an individual basis according to the regulations, and people are required to report their participation in voluntary work. Jobseekers are exempt from the normal requirement to be immediately available for employment, being required only to be available at seven days notice, although they will be required to be available for interviews on being given 48 hours notice, if they are currently engaged in voluntary activity. Similar rules currently apply to Incapacity Benefit claimants and will apply when we introduce the Employment and Support Allowance.
	By putting such easements in place we are trying to ensure entitlement conditions for benefits do not place unnecessary barriers in the way of undertaking voluntary work. However, this must sit within a benefit system that targets support at those who are not in full time remunerative work, and welfare to work policies that envisage full participation in the labour market for those who are able to do so. The current rules aim to strike a balance between allowing benefit recipients to pursue voluntary activity that can be of benefit to the community, while encouraging them to retain a clear focus on moving off welfare into paid employment.
	We have improved the rules about expenses paid to volunteers to ensure all expenses incurred or to be incurred are disregarded when assessing claims to benefits. Also, volunteers who find a job are given a week to re-arrange their voluntary activity before taking up their employment.

Mesothelioma

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons attendance allowance is not paid automatically to people with mesothelioma who are awarded 100 per cent. industrial injuries disablement benefit.

Jim Murphy: Constant attendance allowance is paid where a person is assessed as being 100 per cent. disabled for the purposes of industrial injuries disablement benefit and it is determined that the person requires constant attendance for the necessities of life due to that disablement.
	All people now diagnosed with diffuse mesothelioma are given an automatic assessment of 100 per cent. disablement, in most cases without the need for a medical examination to determine the extent of their disablement. This is because of the prognosis expected from the disease.
	However, not everyone with mesothelioma will require constant attendance at the time of the claim for benefit. That is the reason why entitlement to constant attendance allowance is not decided automatically, but is considered separately according to the needs of the individual, and payment made if appropriate.
	We have commissioned a review of the current industrial disablement benefit scheme. The scheme was introduced in 1948 and may no longer meet the needs of our modern society.
	The review will look at all aspects of the scheme and all the options for the future. We intend to publish a discussion document later this year when we will engage fully with stakeholders and other interested parties.

Mesothelioma

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total amount recovered by the Compensation Recovery Unit was from compensation payments made in respect of mesothelioma cases in the last three years.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 20 June 2006
	Details of the total amount recovered under the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act in respect of mesothelioma cases in the last three years are in the table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Amount recovered () 
			 2003-04 3,113,949 
			 2004-05 3,613,520 
			 2005-06 4,222,944 
			  Source:  Figures produced by the Compensation Recovery Unit.

Migrant Workers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Trades Union Congress on the impact of Central and Eastern European migrants on  (a) wage levels,  (b) terms and conditions at work and  (c) access to benefits.

Jim Murphy: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Ministers have not met the Trades Union Congress to discuss these issues.

Ministerial Flights

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that all flights undertaken by Ministers and officials in his Department are carbon neutral; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: All central Government ministerial and official air travel is being offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases Certified Emissions Reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
	The Department has put in place a mechanism to collect air travel data, and is currently incorporating carbon offsetting into its financial systems.

Mystery Shoppers

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what use is made of mystery shoppers to evaluate departmental performance; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 8 February 2006,  Official Report, columns 1191-92W.

National Insurance

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people from the EU accession member states have registered in each of the London boroughs for a new national insurance number in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested. The information is not available broken down by country of origin, nor is it available broken down below regional level.

National Insurance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps he takes to ensure national insurance numbers are not issued to illegal immigrants; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many immigrants were given national insurance numbers in each quarter from April 1997 to April 2006; what measures were in place to prevent illegal immigrants obtaining national insurance numbers; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: holding answer on 8 June 2006
	All NINO applications are subjected to rigorous identity checking process. Where this raises questions over immigration status or authenticity of identity documents, individuals will be referred to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Previously, where identity requirements were satisfied and the individual was in employment, a NINO would have been issued. In cases where false documents were presented, a NINO would not be issued.
	On Monday 5 June 2006, I announced changes to improve this process. These will take place from July 2006 and will introduce a 'right to work' pre-condition for employment related national insurance number (NINO) applications. This will prevent illegal workers being allocated a NINO.
	The available information regarding the number of overseas nationals allocated NINO is in the table.
	
		
			  Overseas Nationals entering the UK and allocated a National Insurance Number by quarter of Registration 
			   Number 
			 6 April to 30 June 2002 53,730 
			 1 July to 30 September 2002 94,450 
			 1 October to 31 December 2002 90,560 
			 1 January to 5 April 2003 110,530 
			 6 April to 30 June 2003 69,660 
			 1 July to 30 September 2003 94,730 
			 1 October to 31 December 2003 87,320 
			 1 January to 5 April 2004 119,060 
			 6 April to 30 June 2004 89,730 
			 1 July to 30 September 2004 94,420 
			 1 October to 31 December 2004 109,590 
			 1 January to 5 April 2005 146,020 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and may not sum due to rounding. 2. Figures are not available prior to 2002-03 due to unreliability of the registrations data. 3. Figures include EU Nationals.  4. This data is only available from 2002-03 to 2004-05 as reliable HMRC data prior to this date is unavailable. Information for 2005-06 will be available in October 2006.  Source:  100 per cent. extract from National Insurance Recording System at 25 June 2005.

National Insurance

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on the allocation of national insurance numbers to illegal workers; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: We have received a number of representations from hon. Members regarding the allocation of national insurance numbers to illegal workers.
	On Monday 5 June 2006, we announced changes that will take place from July 2006 which will introduce a right to work pre-condition before a NINO can be allocated to employment-related applicants.

National Insurance

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the oral answer of 12 June 2006,  Official Report, column 517, on national insurance numbers (illegal immigrants), how many national insurance numbers were issued to those without the right to live or work in the UK in the last three years.

James Plaskitt: From April 2005 to March 2006, DWP notified the immigration and nationality directorate of 2,537 cases where national insurance numbers were allocated to suspected immigration offenders. In addition, 772 cases involving false documents that have been refused a NINO were notified to the immigration and nationality directorate by DWP. Figures are not available prior to 1 April 2005 as the information was not formally recorded.
	From July 2006 an additional 'right to work' pre-condition test will be introduced for employment related NINO applications. This will prevent illegal workers being allocated a NINO.

National Insurance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has held with HM Revenue and Customs on the use of national insurance numbers in determining eligibility for tax credits of an individual who has failed verification rule 12 of the Tax Credits manual Residency Criteria Not Met.

James Plaskitt: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) works closely with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on matters pertaining to national insurance numbers (NINOs). However, the administration of tax credits is the responsibility of HMRC.

New Deal

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of New Deal leavers has entered sustained, unsubsidised jobs.

Jim Murphy: A measure of sustainability is only available for New Deal for Young People, New Deal 25 plus and New Deal for Lone Parents.
	The available information on the percentage of people who have left New Deal to an unsubsidised, sustained job is in the following table.
	
		
			Leavers to an unsubsidised, sustained job 
			  New deal programme  All leavers (number)  Number  Percentage of all leavers 
			 New Deal for Young People 1,320,380 587,230 44 
			 New Deal 25 plus 438,540 135,570 31 
			 New Deal for Lone Parents 853,820 256,150 30 
			  Notes:  1. Information relates to cumulative leavers to November 2005, which is the latest available data.  2. Information on leavers from New Deal 25 plus is only available for leavers from the post April 2001 enhanced programme.  3. As there are different measures of sustainability for New Deal for Lone Parents, results cannot be compared with those for New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 plus.  4. People gaining unsustained employment through New Deal for Young People and the New Deal 25 plus are not regarded as leaving the programme so are not included in the figures.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate 
		
	
	In addition to those leaving these New Deal programmes to an unsubsidised, sustained job, a further 301,160 people gained a job at some point during their time on the programme, but the employment was not recorded as sustained.
	Even though some people return to jobseeker's allowance or income support after finding a job through New Deal, they will have benefited from their time in employment and will have more employment skills than they did before finding work through New Deal. Many of the people helped into work through New Deal have considerable barriers to employment, particularly those entering New Deal 25 plus, who will have been unemployed for at least 18 months, and helping them into employment is a considerable achievement.
	Participation on New Deal for Lone Parents is voluntary and many lone parents will not be ready to start work immediately on leaving the programme, particularly when their children are below school age. However, the advice and support they receive whilst on NDLP will mean they will be better equipped to enter employment in the future.

New Deal

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of leavers from  (a) New Deal for Young People and  (b) New Deal 25 plus recommenced claiming benefits within 12 months of leaving the programme in each year since it began.

Jim Murphy: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage of New Deal leavers who recommenced claiming benefits within 12 months of leaving the programme 
			   New Deal for Young People (percentage)  New Deal 25 Plus (percentage) 
			 19981 36 31 
			 1999 50 33 
			 2000 52 35 
			 2001 53 35 
			 2002 53 37 
			 2003 51 37 
			 2004 49 38 
			 2005 48 36 
			  Notes:  1. New Deal for Young People was launched in January 1998; New Deal 25 plus in July 1998.  2. The latest benefit data are to February 2006, therefore allowing for a 12 month gap only New Deal leavers to February 2005 are included.  3. The benefits included are bereavement benefit, incapacity benefit, invalid care allowance, income support, jobseeker's allowance, severe disablement allowance and widows benefit.  4. A benefit claim has only been included if it is a new claim after leaving the New Deal spell. People can leave New Deal and continue a benefit claimthese people are not included as recommencing a claim to benefit.   Source:  Information Directorate, DWP 
		
	
	The New Deal has been successful in helping more than 1.5 million people into work including more than 920,000 people through New Deal for Young People (NDYP) and New Deal 25 plus (ND25 plus). It has helped to virtually eradicate long term youth claimant unemployment and has also helped to cut long-term adult employment by almost three quarters, close to its lowest for 30 years. Of those who get a job through the mandatory New Deals, more than 80 per cent. stay off Jobseeker's Allowance for at least 13 weeks.
	Inevitably, in a dynamic labour market, some people return to Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support after finding a job through New Deal, nevertheless, they will have benefited from their time in employment and will have more employment skills than they did before finding work through New Deal.

Pathways to Work

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals are participating in Pathways to Work in  (a) Lewisham, Deptford constituency and  (b) Lewisham borough.

Jim Murphy: Our successful Pathways to Work pilots have been acknowledged internationally as the best way of helping people on incapacity benefits back into work quickly. They have resulted in 21,400 Pathways job entries, including over 3,360 from voluntary customers.
	I recently announced my plans for the nationwide roll out of Pathways to Work. Pathways to Work will be rolled out to Lewisham, Deptford constituency and Lewisham borough in April 2008.

Pension Credit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in  (a) Yeovil constituency,  (b) Somerset and  (c) the south west receive pension credit.

James Purnell: The information is in the table.
	
		
			  Individual beneficiaries in Yeovil constituency, Somerset local authorities and the south west, February 2006. 
			   Individual Beneficiaries( 1) 
			  Parliamentary constituency  
			 Yeovil 5,450 
			   
			  Local authority  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 7,770 
			 North Somerset 10,200 
			 South Somerset 8,230 
			 West Somerset 2,510 
			   
			 Government office region  
			 The South West 274,020 
			 (1) The number of individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners.   Notes:  1. These figures are early estimates. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figures provided are the latest available figures which are taken from the GMS scan at 17 February 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure. Average amounts are displayed as at the scan reference data of 17 February 2006.  2. The number of individual beneficiaries are rounded to the nearest ten.  3. Parliamentary constituency/Government office region and local authority are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.   Source:  DWP 100 per cent. data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS). Pension credit scan taken as at 17 February 2006.

Pension Credit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in each electoral ward in Yeovil constituency receive pension credit; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Pension credit individual beneficiaries for wards in Yeovil parliamentary constituency, November 2005 
			  Ward name( 1)  Individual beneficiaries( 2) 
			 Blackdown 140 
			 Brympton 150 
			 Chard Avishayes 130 
			 Chard Combe 190 
			 Chard Crimchard 75 
			 Chard Holyrood 235 
			 Chard Jocelyn 200 
			 Coker 240 
			 Crewkerne 510 
			 Eggwood 155 
			 Hamdon 160 
			 Ilminster 360 
			 Neroche 140 
			 Parrett 80 
			 St. Michael's 150 
			 South Petherton 285 
			 Tatworth and Forton 145 
			 Windwhistle 90 
			 Yeovil Central 460 
			 Yeovil East 500 
			 Yeovil South 295 
			 Yeovil West 440 
			 Yeovil Without 285 
			 Camelot(3) 125 
			 Ivelchester(3) 140 
			 Yeovil constituency total 5,470 
			 (1) Wards are based on 2003 ward boundaries.  (2) The number of individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners.  (3) Only part of Camelot and Ivelchester wards fall within Yeovil parliamentary constituency.   Note:  Number of households are rounded to a multiple of five, therefore ward totals do not always sum to area totals.   Source:  DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 100 per cent. data.

Pension Service

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria were used to make decisions on changes in staffing levels taking effect between March 2004 and March 2008 for agencies of the Department, with particular reference to their application to the Pension Service; what assessment he has made of the changes in service levels necessitated by staffing changes, including partnership agreements with local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The Department's headcount reduction challenge was determined primarily on the basis of productivity improvements delivered from the Department's modernisation projects and programmes. These include improvements to IT infrastructure, more efficient procurement, benefit and policy simplification, and re-engineering of business processes and organisations. These improvements will mean the Department will require fewer staff to deliver its services.
	Among the measures introduced is a comprehensive transformation of the Pension Service that will deliver improved customer service and encourage take-up, while achieving significantly increased productivity and efficiency. The Pension Service headcount reductions are to be realised primarily from the Pension Transformation Programme.
	The Department's efficiency target will be met if the overall efficiency savings, including the staff savings, are achieved without detriment to performance across all areas of DWP's activity and our customers, including corporate customers such as local authorities, experience no diminution in the service they receive. Latest details of performance can be found in the departmental report which was laid before the House on 11 May 2006.

Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of pensioners will be eligible for means-tested assistance  (a) under present policies and  (b) under the proposals in the White Paper in each year up to 2020.

James Purnell: holding answer 22 June 2006
	The information requested is not available in full. Information relating to pension credit is shown in the following tables. This includes the majority of pensioner households eligible for means-tested assistance.
	Table 1 shows the estimated proportion of all pensioner households eligible for pension credit for 2006-07 and 2007-08 and Table 2 shows projections from 2008-09 to 2020-21.
	
		
			  Table 1: Estimated proportion of pensioner households eligible for pension credit under the current system 
			   Percentage 
			 2006-07 45 
			 2007-08 46 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Projected proportion of pensioner households eligible for pension credit for selected years under the current system and the White Paper proposals 
			   Percentage under: 
			   Current system  White Paper proposals 
			 2008-09 46 45 
			 2009-10 46 45 
			 2010-11 46 44 
			 2011-12 48 45 
			 2012-13 48 45 
			 2013-14 48 44 
			 2014-15 49 44 
			 2015-16 50 44 
			 2016-17 50 43 
			 2017-18 50 42 
			 2018-19 51 41 
			 2019-20 53 41 
			 2020-21 54 41 
			  Notes:  1. Projections of the proportion of pensioner households eligible for pension credit are sensitive to modelling assumptions and to projected changes in the distribution of pensioner incomes.  2. The estimate of proportions shown are the mid-points of projections taken from two separate micro-simulation models. Modelling of the reform proposals does not assume any increase in private saving from the introduction of personal accounts, which would further reduce the numbers eligible for pension credit.  3. The projections under the current system assume that basic state pension is uprated in line with prices and the standard guarantee credit with earnings each year. It should be noted that there is a Government commitment to uprate the standard guarantee credit with earnings until 2008. Treasury projections for the current system assume price uprating of the standard guarantee credit beyond 2008.  4. The reform projections assume: continued earnings uprating of the standard guarantee credit; the savings credit maximum is uprated by earnings from 2008 and then by prices from 2015; earnings uprating of the basic state pension from 2012; measures to improve coverage of the basic state pension described in the White Paper.  5. Estimates cover all those aged above women's state pension age in the private household population of Great Britain.  6. Estimates account for equalisation of state pension age between 2010 and 2020.  7. Estimates are calibrated to the mid-points of the 2004-05 National Statistics range estimates of non-eligibility to pension credit, which adjust 2004-05 Family Resources Survey data to take account of possible biases in reporting. Although the estimates are not presented as ranges, they are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Personal Capability Assessment

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether before implementation the revised Personal Capability Assessment will be subject to an independent pilot and evaluation which will examine the impact on people with  (a) mental illness,  (b) learning disability and  (c) autistic spectrum disorder.

Anne McGuire: As part of our transformation of the Personal Capability Assessment (PCA) we are working to improve the way that the assessment deals with the problems and difficulties that individuals with these conditions face.
	To ensure that the review does just this, we have set up two working groups to look at the mental health component of the PCA. This review includes technical or medical experts from the field of mental health and learning disabilities as well as representatives from key stakeholder groups. MENCAP and the National Autistic Society are fully involved in the working groups carrying out the review.
	When we have completed the review of the PCA we intend to test the changes to evaluate their effectiveness. The evaluation will look at the impact of the revised PCA on people with mental illness, learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders.

Post Office

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Government first announced its intention to phase out the Post Office card account.

James Plaskitt: We are not phasing out the Post Office card account. We will fulfil our contractual obligations to fund the Post Office card account until March 2010 as was always clear when the contract was signed with Post Office Ltd. in March 2002.
	I also refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Mr. Reid) on 13 March 2006,  Official Report, column 1849W.

Post Office

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for which services  (a) his Department and  (b) its associated public bodies hold contracts with the Post Office; and what the (i) start and (ii) termination date is of each contract.

James Plaskitt: The service contracts in place between the Department for Work and Pensions and Post Office Ltd are:
	The Post Office card account contract, which was signed in March 2002 and will end on 31 March 2010.
	A contract to ensure that customers who are receiving payment by cheque can continue to collect their cheques in the event of disruption to normal delivery services. The contract began in February 2005 and will be reviewed prior to its end date, which is March 2007.

Post Office

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what services  (a) his Department and  (b) its associated public bodies (i) make available and (ii) have made available in the last five years through the post office network; through how many outlets the service is or was made available; and how many relevant transactions were undertaken in each case in the most recent year for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: All of the information is not available in the format requested.
	There are a number of services which have been made available through the post office network in the last five years, all of which are or have been made available at all post office outlets.
	Since April 2003, DWP customers who receive their payments by direct payment into a Post Office card account have been able to collect their money from post office branches. Between April 2005 and March 2006, 210.3 million DWP payments were made into a Post Office card account.
	Customers who cannot be paid by direct payment are paid by cheque. Through the Department's relationship with the Alliance  Leicester Commercial Bank plc., cheque payments with a value of less than 450.00 can be cashed at all post office branches. Between 24 March 2005 and 22 March 2006, 27.6 million DWP cheques were cashed at post office branches.
	Since 1 February 2005 the Department has also had a contract with Post Office Ltd. to ensure that customers can continue to receive cheque payments in the event of disruption to normal postal delivery services.
	Up to 31 May 2005 a contract was in place for the payment of DWP benefits and pensions by order book. This contract was terminated as part of the Governments plan to modernise the way benefits and pensions are paid. In April and May 2005 25,840 order book foils were cashed at post office branches.
	Prior to 3 June 2004, DWP had a contract in place with Post Office Ltd. for the display of key departmental leaflets and posters in post office display panels. Post Office Ltd. terminated this contract with effect from 2 June 2004.

Poverty

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of  (a) adults and  (b) children were living in poverty in (i) England, (ii) each English region and (iii) the Tees Valley in each year since 1997.

Jim Murphy: Information below regional level is not available.
	Information is presented in the tables for England as a whole and for the component English regions. This is consistent with the latest publication of the 'Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2004-05'.
	The following tables show the proportions of working-age adults living in households with income below the threshold 60 per cent. of contemporary median in England and the English regions since 1995-961997-98. These are shown 'Before and After Housing Costs'. The threshold of 60 per cent. of median household income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	
		
			  Proportions of working-age adults living in households with less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income, for England and the English regions 1996-971998-99 to 2002-032004-05, before housing costs 
			   Proportion of working-age adults( 1)  as three-year moving averages 
			   1996-97/1998-99  1997-98/1998-99  1998-99/2000-01  1999-2000/2001-02  2000-01/2002-03  2001-02/2003-04  2002-03/2004-05 
			 England 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 
			 North East 20 21 20 19 18 18 18 
			 North West and Merseyside 17 17 17 16 16 15 15 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 18 18 17 16 16 16 15 
			 East Midlands 15 14 15 15 15 15 15 
			 West Midlands 15 14 15 15 16 16 16 
			 Eastern 11 10 10 10 10 11 11 
			 London 14 14 14 14 14 15 15 
			 South East 9 10 9 9 9 9 9 
			 South West 14 14 14 13 13 13 12 
		
	
	
		
			  Proportions of working-age adults living in households with less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income, for England and the English regions 1996-971998-99 to 2002-032004-05, after housing costs 
			   Proportion of working-age adults( 1)  as three-year moving averages 
			   1996-97/1998-99  1997-98/1998-99  1998-99/2000-01  1999-2000/2001-02  2000-01/2002-03  2001-02/2003-04  2002-03/2004-05 
			 England 20 19 19 19 19 19 19 
			 North East 25 26 25 23 22 21 21 
			 North West and Merseyside 22 21 21 21 20 19 19 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 21 22 21 21 20 20 19 
			 East Midlands 18 18 18 18 19 19 19 
			 West Midlands 18 18 19 19 20 20 20 
			 Eastern 16 15 14 14 14 15 15 
			 London 24 24 23 23 23 23 24 
			 South East 15 15 15 15 14 15 15 
			 South West 19 19 19 19 18 18 17 
			 (1) Figures are provided using a three-year moving averages, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year on year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time.   Source:  Family Resources Survey 
		
	
	The following tables show the proportions of children living in households with income below the threshold 60 per cent. of contemporary median in England and the English regions since 1996-97. These are shown before and after housing costs. The threshold of 60 per cent. of median household income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	
		
			  Proportions of children living in households with less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income, for England and the English regions 1996-971998-99 to 2002-032004-05, before housing costs 
			   Proportion of children( 1)  as three-year moving averages 
			   1996-97/1998-99  1997-98/1998-99  1998-99/2000-01  1999-2000/2001-02  2000-01/2002-03  2001-02/2003-04  2002-03/2004-05 
			 England 24 24 22 21 20 20 20 
			 North East 31 32 32 27 29 27 28 
			 North West and Merseyside 30 30 28 25 23 23 22 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 30 30 28 26 25 24 24 
			 East Midlands 23 23 23 23 24 22 21 
			 West Midlands 27 26 25 26 24 24 24 
			 Eastern 18 18 16 15 13 14 14 
			 London 25 24 24 23 23 23 24 
			 South East 16 15 14 14 13 13 12 
			 South West 22 21 19 17 17 17 16 
		
	
	
		
			  Proportions of children living in households with less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income, for England and the English regions 1996-971998-99 to 2002-032004-05, after housing costs 
			   Proportion of children( 1)  as three-year moving averages 
			   1996-97/1998-99  1997-98/1998-99  1998-99/2000-01  1999-2000/2001-02  2000-01/2002-03  2001-02/2003-04  2002-03/2004-05 
			 England 33 32 32 31 29 29 28 
			 North East 38 38 38 34 34 32 32 
			 North West and Merseyside 37 37 35 33 32 30 29 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 35 35 33 32 30 30 29 
			 East Midlands 29 29 29 28 29 27 26 
			 West Midlands 33 32 33 33 32 31 30 
			 Eastern 27 26 25 24 23 22 22 
			 London 41 41 40 39 38 38 39 
			 South East 25 24 23 23 22 21 21 
			 South West 31 31 29 28 27 27 25 
			 (1) Figures are provided using a three-year moving averages, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year on year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time.   Source:  Family Resources Survey

Redundancies

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of the staff made redundant by his Department and the agencies for which it is responsible since 6 April 2004 had been recruited by the Department or its predecessor Department and their respective agencies since 1 May 1997.

Anne McGuire: As part of its Efficiency Programme, the Department has run a number of staff early release schemes since April 2004. All but one early release under these schemes has been on a voluntary basis. As at the end of March 2006 a total of 335 staff (full-time equivalent) who left the Department under these schemes had been recruited since 1 May 1997.

Remploy

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when approval was given for the chief executive of Remploy to take on an external commitment in the form of a directorship of Hill Executive Action Ltd.; and who gave such approval.

Anne McGuire: The position of director of Hill Executive Action Ltd. does not have any impact on his role as chief executive of Remploy and, as such, does not require approval by Remploy.

Remploy

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many hours a week the chief operating officer of Remploy is contracted to work for the organisation.

Anne McGuire: The chief operating officer is contracted to work for 35 hours a week for Remploy.

Remploy

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the remit was of the review team looking at the future of Remploy Ltd. including information on the more detailed work that was requested of the team as announced in his written statement of 6 June.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 4 July 2006
	The remit of the review was announced in my ministerial statement of 16 March 2006, and a copy of the terms of reference for the review was placed in the Library.
	I asked PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) to provide expert independent advice on the options for a radical strategy that would lead to Remploy being able to help more disabled people into work at unit costs comparable with other providers of supported employment, specifically: the options for a strategy within the existing budgeted funding envelope of 111 million per year; and what alternatives approaches compatible with the Government's overall policy direction are possible without the need for significant further investment.
	The review team were asked to do some more detailed work to ensure that we are in the best possible position to make robust decisions about the future of Remploy.
	The recommendations of the review team will be considered very carefully, and I hope to make a further statement to Parliament before the summer recess.

Remploy

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written statement of 6 June 2006,  Official Report, column 26WS, on Remploy, when the Minister expects to be in a position to make a further statement to the House on the future of Remploy.

Anne McGuire: I have not yet received PricewaterhouseCoopers' report on Remploy, but expect to do so shortly. I hope to make a further statement about the review before recess.

Savings Credit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of savings credit was in 2005; what his estimate is of the cost in each year from 2006 to 2030; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The cost of the savings credit from 2004-05 to 2007-08 is in the following tables. Figures for the projected costs of the savings credit beyond 2007-08 are currently not available. I will write to the hon. Member when they become available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Savings credit expenditureoutturn 
			   billion 
			   Pension credit (savings credit) expenditure in the UK nominal terms  Pension credit (savings credit) expenditure in the UK real terms 2006-07 prices 
			 2004-05 1.0 1.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Savings credit expenditureprojections 
			   billion 
			   Pension credit (savings credit) projected expenditure in the UK nominal terms  Pension credit (savings credit) projected expenditure in the UK real terms 2006-07 prices 
			 2005-06 1.1 1.1 
			 2006-07 1.2 1.2 
			 2007-08 1.5 1.4

Seasonal Workers

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support his Department provides for  (a) seasonal workers when they are out of work and  (b) the rural unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: All customers who are unemployed and eligible for benefits, including seasonal workers and the rural unemployed, are able to access a wide range of services and programmes provided by Jobcentre Plus provided they meet the eligibility criteria. In instances where a seasonal worker may not be eligible for benefits they are still able to use the services of Jobcentre Plus in their search for temporary employment.
	The Jobcentre Plus website displays details of job opportunities and advisers encourage customers to access these facilities through their local libraries or community centres to maintain their contact with the labour market. Where a customer has to travel to the local office they are paid their fares at the local transport rates. For customers who live in remote or island areas Jobcentre Plus staff can carry out interviews locally.
	Jobcentre Plus also offers the facility of postal signing to customers living further than one hour by public transport from the nearest local office, or where the journey would involve using transport not regarded as local such as an aircraft or ferry.
	Rural areas with particular problems of unemployment and worklessness will also benefit from the Deprived Areas Fund, to be operational from October 2006. This will provide Jobcentre Plus district managers with flexibility to invest funds at a local level in a way which they decide best meets the needs of their local workless residents.

SERPS

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are estimated to have contracted out of the state earnings related pension scheme.

James Purnell: Information on the number of people contracted out of the additional state pension (the state second pension, formerly the state earnings related pension scheme) in each year during the period 1978-79 to 2003-04 is in the table.
	
		
			  Type of Scheme 
			  Million 
			Defined Contribution 
			  Tax year  Defined Benefit  Occupational  Personal/Stakeholder 
			 1978-79 9.3 0.1  
			 1979-80 9.6 0.1  
			 1980-81 9.6 0.1  
			 1981-82 9.3 0.1  
			 1982-83 9.1 0.1  
			 1983-84 8.9 0.1  
			 1984-85 8.7 0.1  
			 1985-86 9.0 0.1  
			 1986-87 9.0 0.2  
			 1987-88 8.8 0.2 2.6 
			 1988-89 9.0 0.5 2.9 
			 1989-90 8.9 0.7 3.6 
			 1990-91 8.7 0.7 3.9 
			 1991-92 8.4 0.6 4.0 
			 1992-93 8.1 0.6 4.1 
			 1993-94 7.8 0.6 3.9 
			 1994-95 7.6 0.6 3.8 
			 1995-96 7.7 0.7 3.6 
			 1996-97 7.7 0.7 3.5 
			 1997-98 7.6 0.8 3.5 
			 1998-99 7.7 0.8 3.5 
			 1999-2000 7.6 0.7 3.5 
			 2000-01 7.8 0.7 3.5 
			 2001-02 7.7 0.7 3.5 
			 2002-03 7.7 0.6 3.3 
			 2003-04 7.6 0.6 2.9 
			  Notes:  1. The data for 2003-04 are provisional and may be subject to change in future publications.  2. 2003-04 is the latest year for which NIRS2 contracted-out data are available.  3. The state earnings related pension scheme was reformed by the state second pension from 2002-03.   Source:  Department for Work and Pensions, Second Tier Pension Provision 1978-79 to 2003-04.

State Pension Age

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those in employment would be affected by the state pension age rising to  (a) 66 by 2026,  (b) 67 by 2036 and  (c) 68 by 2046, assuming they continue in employment until state pension age.

James Purnell: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Estimated numbers of people currently in paid work and not in full-time education, of an age to be potentially affected by such changes in state pension age (SPA), first quarter 2006; in Great Britain 
			  Age in first quarter 2006  Number (million) 
			 38 to 46 (SPA 66 or between 65 and 66) 6.4 
			 29 to 37 (SPA 67 or between 66 and 67) 5.7 
			 16 to 28 (SPA 68 or between 67 and 68) 4.9 
			 Total 17.0 
			  Note:  Each increase in the SPA is phased in gradually over two years.   Source:  Labour Force Survey.

State Pension Age

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women who are currently in employment will be affected by the increase in the state pension age from 60 to 65.

James Purnell: Around 10.5 million women in paid work, and not in full-time education, in Great Britain in the first quarter of 2006 were of an age to be potentially affected by the equalisation of state pension age from 2010 to 2020.
	 Source:
	Labour Force survey

Vulnerable Households (Pathfinder Areas)

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many vulnerable households in the private sector in pathfinder areas have  (a) accrued arrears,  (b) been served a notice of possession and  (c) been evicted.

James Plaskitt: Four per cent. of claimants in the pathfinder areas have accrued arrears of eight weeks or more, and payment of their benefit has transferred to their landlord. A further 12 per cent. of claimants have had payment of their benefit transferred to their landlord on the grounds of vulnerability or that they are unlikely to pay.
	Information on the level of arrears accrued by vulnerable claimants is not available as the nine local housing allowance (LHA) pathfinders have each interpreted the LHA vulnerability safeguards according to local circumstances and operational practices.
	Information on the numbers of tenants in the pathfinder areas who have been served a notice seeking possession and/or who have been evicted is also not available. However, evidence from the interviews with local authority and voluntary sector stakeholders, undertaken as part of the evaluation in the pathfinder areas, has not indicated that there has been any noticeable rise in levels of possessions or evictions due to the introduction of the LHA.

Vulnerable Households (Pathfinder Areas)

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of local housing allowance on vulnerable tenants in private rented schemes in pathfinder areas.

James Plaskitt: The impact of the local housing allowance (LHA) on vulnerable tenants in private rented accommodation is a key theme of the evaluation. The working of the vulnerability safeguards have been examined at the six, 15 month and final stages of the evaluation. The six and 15 month stages have been reported upon and published and copies are available in the Library. The reporting of the final evaluation has now commenced.
	The findings to date suggest that the safeguards have been applied appropriately to the various local conditions of the pathfinders and are generally working well. Consequently, very few problems have been identified by the welfare and advice agencies that are also included in the evaluation or in the research undertaken by the CAB and Shelter.

Vulnerable Households (Pathfinder Areas)

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to give vulnerable  (a) housing benefit and  (b) local housing allowance claimants in the private sector the choice of direct payments to landlords.

James Plaskitt: One of the key principles of the local housing allowance is to encourage personal responsibility, which is why local housing allowance will be paid to the tenant wherever possible.
	In the local housing allowance pathfinders there are safeguards in place to enable a local authority to identify when payment should be made to the landlord, rather than the tenant. These safeguards have worked well, and we shall continue to review them as we develop the details of the scheme for national roll out.

Vulnerable Households (Pathfinder Areas)

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received in respect of the local housing allowance vulnerability procedures; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Government outlined their proposals for extending the local housing allowance in the Green Paper A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work on Tuesday 24 January 2006. As part of the consultation process, and in informal discussions, representations have been received on all aspects of the local housing allowance scheme, including the vulnerability procedures. These comments will be considered as the details of the scheme are developed for national roll out.
	The findings to date from the evaluation of the local housing allowance suggest that the safeguards have been applied appropriately to the various local conditions of the Pathfinders and are generally working well. Consequently, very few problems have been identified by the welfare and advice agencies that are also included in the evaluation or in the research undertaken by the CAB and Shelter.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the carbon emissions of her Department; what commitment she has made to reducing such emissions; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: My Department's last published statement on carbon emissions is 14,900 tonnes of carbon equivalent (tC) for the 2004-05 reporting year. The DCA is fully committed to reducing carbon emissions and invests in a programme of energy surveys to identify areas of potential energy savings. In addition to this the Department has also opened discussions with the Carbon Trust to look at further methods of reducing emissions including further reduction in usage and self generation.

Dr. David Kelly

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to her answer of 14 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1267W, on Dr. David Kelly, on what date she expects the original documents supplied to the Hutton inquiry, currently held at the National Archives, to be made available for public inspection.

Harriet Harman: The inquiry papers are at the National Archives for cataloguing in accordance with archival standards. No date has been set for completion of this work.

Dr. David Kelly

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what matters were discussed when officials met the Oxfordshire coroner on 11 August 2003; and whether they included consideration of the issuing of a death certificate for Dr. Kelly.

Harriet Harman: I understand that only the certification and registration of the death were discussed.

Dr. David Kelly

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs who requested the meeting between officials and the Oxfordshire coroner on 11 August 2003; and who was at the meeting.

Harriet Harman: The meeting was requested by the Oxfordshire coroner. The Worcestershire coroner and Honorary Secretary of the Coroners Society, a senior lawyer and the Head of Tribunals Strategy Branch of the then Lord Chancellor's Department, were also present.

Dr. David Kelly

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to her answer of 26 June 2006,  Official Report, column 304W, on Dr. David Kelly, under what authority the Oxfordshire coroner conducted a resumed hearing of the inquest into the death of Dr. Kelly on 14 August 2003; and for what purpose.

Harriet Harman: The coroner resumed the inquest on 14 August 2003 in accordance with the authority he has under section 17A(2) of the Coroners Act 1988. The purpose of the resumed hearing was to take evidence as to the interim cause of death thus enabling the coroner to fulfil his duty of sending the Registrar of Deaths the necessary particulars concerning the death.

Elections

Iain Wright: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she is taking to increase  (a) voter registration and  (b) electoral turnout in areas of deprivation.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have embarked on a number of initiatives to promote participation in democracy. It does not directly promote voter turnout in elections; that is the role of political parties, the candidates and the Electoral Commission.
	The Electoral Administration Bill makes a number of changes to improve the registration process. These include a new duty setting out the minimum steps that the electoral registration officer will be expected to take to ensure a comprehensive register and enabling people to register after an election has been called. The Bill also provides a new power for returning officers to promote participation at elections, and the Government have made available 2.5 million to support the new power.

Family Proceedings

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many judges were involved in family proceedings in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06;
	(2)  how many vacancies for judges in family proceedings there were in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06;
	(3)  what plans he has to recruit judges in family proceedings.

Harriet Harman: This information is not available in the form requested. There are 19 Judges of the Family Division of the High Court, apart from its President, and 20 District Judges in the Principal Registry of the Family Division. A further 166 judges are authorised to hear High Court family cases as Deputy High Court Judges. Family cases might also be heard in the Court of Appeal by any of the five Heads of Division, or 37 Lords Justices of Appeal, or on appeal to the House of Lords by any of the 12 Lords of Appeal in Ordinary.
	There are currently 446 judges below the High Court with authorisations to hear private law Children Act cases in the county courts (dealing, for example, with contact and residence orders) and 594 judges below the High Court with authorisations to hear public law Children Act cases in the county courts (such as care proceedings).
	Not all judges with such authorisations will, however, sit in family proceedings in any particular year. Other judges may deal with other forms of family proceedings including divorce and ancillary relief. Family proceedings other than divorce and ancillary relief are also dealt with by District Judges (magistrates courts) when sitting in the family proceedings courts.
	Apart from the Family Division of the High Court and the Principal Registry there has been no fixed number of judges dealing with family proceedings, and so the number of vacancies for judges in family proceedings is impossible to quantify. No posts have been left vacant in the Family Division or the Principal Registry. Judges at different levels are deployed according to the needs of the courts.
	The Judicial Appointments Commission is running a selection exercise for the District Bench and this may include judges who will sit in family proceedings. In addition it will be possible to ask the JAC to run selection exercises to fill vacancies in the High Court Bench and Circuit Bench and this may include specific family posts.

Inquests

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the occasions on which an inquest has been adjourned under section 17A of the Coroners Act 1988; and how many deaths were involved in each case.

Harriet Harman: Inquests have been adjourned under section 17A of the Coroners Act 1988 on four occasions: (1) Ladbroke Grove Rail Crashinquests involving 31 deaths adjourned in February 2000; (2) deaths connected with Dr. Harold Shipmaninquests totalling 311 were adjourned in May 2001 and July 2002; (3) Dr. David Kellyinquest adjourned in August 2003; (4) the Gaul fishing vesselinquests involving four deaths were adjourned in November 2003.

Inquests

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to her answer of 26 June 2006,  Official Report, column 305W, on inquests, how many inquests have been adjourned since 1 January 1997 because of the creation of an inquiry; and how many of these were subsequently  (a) resumed and  (b) not resumed.

Harriet Harman: A total of 347 inquests have been adjourned under section 17A of the Coroners Act 1988 since 1 January 1997 following the setting up of an inquiry. None of these inquests has been resumed.

Judges (North-west)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of judges in the north-west are themselves from the north-west; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The northern circuit, which covers the north-west, includes 93 circuit judges, 70 district judges, 15 district judges (magistrates courts), 177 recorders, eight deputy circuit judges and 129 deputy district judges. Judges are required to live within reasonable travelling distance of their home courts, although this need not necessarily be within the boundaries of the circuit.
	Four High Court judges are especially linked to the circuit and act as the two presiding judges of the circuit, the Family Division liaison judge and the Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster. They divide their time between London and the north-west. Other judges may also sit in the north-west as required.
	The Department does not collect information about the place of origin of judicial office-holders.

Legal Profession (Complaints)

John Mann: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how many solicitors have refused to accept decisions of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what rights of redress are available to those who have won decisions at both the Law Society Adjudication Panel and the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal;
	(3)  what sanctions are available against solicitors who refuse to accept decisions of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal;
	(4)  what performance standards she has set for the length of time a consumer complaint to the Law Society takes to be resolved, including where the solicitors refuses to accept decisions of the Law Society Adjudication Panel and the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.

Bridget Prentice: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Tynwald Day

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representatives the Government will be sending to the Tynwald Day celebrations on the Isle of Man.

Harriet Harman: Her Majesty's Government was not represented at Tynwald Day on 5 July this year. Her Majesty the Queen was represented by the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, His Excellency Vice Admiral Sir Paul Haddacks KCB.

Voter Registration

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the net change in voter registration as a result of its 2006 local elections registration campaign.

Bridget Prentice: The Government led a successful campaign using young urban artists to raise awareness of voter registration among 18 to 24-year-olds in London before the May 2006 local government elections. We are currently undertaking an evaluation of the campaign and the results will be available later this year.

Voter Registration

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost was of her Department's voter registration campaign for the 2006 local elections.

Bridget Prentice: In London for the May 2006 local government elections, the Government spent 192,571 on the 1824 Collective campaign which promoted awareness of voter registration among London's urban youth using the creative concept of an urban music collective to appeal to 18 to 24-year-olds.

HEALTH

Alcohol Detoxification Programmes

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to allow pastoral outreach workers assisting alcoholics without families engaged in detoxification programmes to be treated as next-of-kin for health information purposes.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 3 July 2006
	Patients who have the capacity to consent to the release of their personal information may consent to its release to pastoral outreach workers.
	In the case of those patients who do not have that capacity, healthcare professionals may release such information to pastoral outreach workers where they consider the release would be in the best interests of their patient and that it would be in accordance with the right to respect for private life which is guaranteed by the European Convention of Human Rights.
	These provisions are designed to provide a balance between the protection of the privacy of personal healthcare information and the communication of that information where that is appropriate, whether to pastoral outreach workers or to others.

Clinical Trial Regulations

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will bring forward the proposed amendment to the Clinical Trials Regulations of 2004 on consent; and what steps she is taking  (a) to halt and  (b) to reverse the reductions in emergency care research in the meantime.

Andy Burnham: The Government are committed to the support for emergency care research. Following detailed consultation with those involved in emergency research, a provision was included in the UK Clinical Trials Regulations(1) which precludes incapacitated adults participating in trials without the prior consent of their legal representative. However, after the regulations came into force, researchers involved in a large trial requiring immediate administration of a clot busting drug to resuscitate patients following a heart attack found it was impracticable to obtain consent using the provisions of the regulations. This was because the patient had usually lost capacity to consent and the limited time available for administering the trial drug did not allow contact to be made with the legal representative.
	The Government therefore consulted on a proposed amendment to the regulations which would enable incapacitated adults to be entered into trials prior to the consent of a legal representative having been obtained where the trial was of a medicine to be used in emergency situations. Consent would subsequently need to be obtained. The proposal received wide support.
	However, the occurrence of serious adverse reactions in a drug trial in healthy volunteers in March has led to heightened scrutiny of all clinical trial regulation, including a re-examination of this proposal to ensure that it can be justified. That re-examination is ongoing.
	(1 )The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 [SI 20004/1031].

Clostridium Difficile

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths have been caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile in  (a) Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS and  (b) England in the last three years; and what guidance her Department has issued to (i) hospitals and (ii) primary care trusts on preventing such deaths.

Andy Burnham: The data requested is not available centrally. The Office for National Statistics published figures on the number of deaths where Clostridium difficile was mentioned on the death certificate from 1999 to 2004 in Health Statistics Quarterly 30 in May 2006. The number of deaths where Clostridium difficile was mentioned on the death certificate and the number where it was also the underlying cause of death are given in the following table. The full paper is available at www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/HS0 30.pdf. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	
		
			  Number of death certificates with Clostridium difficile mentioned and as the underlying cause, England, 2002-04 
			   Mentioned  Underlying cause 
			 2002 1,338 709 
			 2003 1,702 912 
			 2004 2,155 1,187 
		
	
	A joint professional letter from the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Nursing Officer went out to NHS trusts in December 2005 to remind them of the importance of this infection. This letter listed the key actions to control Clostridium difficle and highlighted the guidance available.(1,2) The letter is available at www.dh.gov.uk/assetroot/04/12/55/23/04125523.pdf. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	As part of our delivery programme Saving lives: a delivery programme to reduce healthcare associated infections including MRSA a high impact intervention that is a tool to help reduce Clostridium difficile infections was published in June 2006.
	A simple guide to Clostridium difficile is also available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetroot/04/ll/58/84/04115884.pdf. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	(1) Clostridium Difficile Infection, Prevention and Management A Report by a Department of Health/PHLS joint working group. 1994
	(2) Guidelines for optimal surveillance of Clostridium difficile infection in hospitals Brazier JS and Duerden BI. Guidelines for optimal surveillance of Clostridium difficile infection in hospitals. Comm.Dis.Pub.Health. 1998:1;(4) 229-230.

Contraception

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what types of contraceptive are available to  (a) men and  (b) women through family planning clinics; what the price of each item is; and what the cost of providing each contraceptive free of charge was in the last year for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: The type of contraceptives available to men and women through community contraceptive services are shown in the following list. However, availability will vary between clinics.
	 Available contraception at family planning clinics
	 Available to men
	Male condoms
	Vasectomy (referral)
	Contraception advice
	 Available to women
	Oral contraceptive methods (pill)
	Intrauterine devices (IUD)
	Intrauterine system (IUS)
	Implants
	Intertable contraceptives
	Male and female condoms (femidoms)
	Female sterilisation (referral)
	Contraception patch
	Cap/diaphragm
	Other chemicals/spermacides
	Natural family planning awareness
	The price of each item is available from the British National Formulary and is available on their website at www.bnf.org
	The cost of providing each contraceptive free of charge via community contraceptive (family planning) clinics is not collected centrally.

Death Certificates

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to audit death certificates.

Andy Burnham: The Government are considering what else might be done to strengthen the overall system within which deaths are certified and investigated, to complement the draft Bill on coroner reform published by the Department for Constitutional Affairs on 12 June 2006(1).
	(1 )Coroner Reform: The Government's draft BillImproving death investigation in England and Wales, June 2006, Cm 6849

Diet

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions the Government has had on plans to promote healthy eating; and with whom.

Caroline Flint: As part of the obesity prevention programme, the Government have a well developed stakeholder engagement process to promote healthy eating. The Department has been working closely with a development group of about 40 stakeholders drawn from the non-government organisations, physical activity, food manufacturing and food retailing sectors. The group also includes the frontline services within the national health service, local government, and the Departments for Culture, Media and Sports, for Education and Skills, for Transport and for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The work of the Department is well informed by an expert review group of leading experts from the fields of behavioural psychology, nutrition and physical activity.

Doctors

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to ensure the retention of junior doctors in NHS posts.

Rosie Winterton: Training opportunities are agreed locally between service and educational representatives. However, it is likely that most doctors in training posts in England, and who therefore have a reasonable expectation of competing successfully for further training, will be able to do so. As always, some doctors may need to be flexible about the specialities or locations in which they work.

Fertility Services

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of fertility services in Shropshire.

Caroline Flint: NHS West Midlands reports that both Shropshire county primary care trust and Telford and Wrekin PCT provide two cycles of in vitro fertilisation treatment to couples in which the woman is aged 37.5 or under at the time of treatment. Their policy on eligibility for treatment was determined before the publication of the clinical guideline on the assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
	The PCTs are currently reviewing their policies against the NICE guidelines and a paper will be produced for consideration by the respective boards in the autumn.

Healthcare-acquired Infections

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital patients have  (a) contracted and  (b) died from exposure to healthcare-acquired infections in the constituency of North-West Cambridgeshire since 1997.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 5 July 2006
	The information requested is not available in the format requested. However, data for meticillin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream infections, Clostridium difficile reports and glycopeptide resistant enterococci (GRE) blood stream infections have been set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus 
			   Number of MRSA bacteraemias 
			   April to March each year: 
			  Trusts in North West Cambridgeshire constituency  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust 12 25 26 12 
			 Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 12 10 10 16 
		
	
	
		
			  Clostridium difficile reports and glycopeptide resistant enterococci (GRE) blood stream infections 
			  Trusts in North West Cambridgeshire constituency  Number of Clostridium difficile reports for patients 65 and over January 2004 to December 2004  Number of Glycopeptide resistant enterococci (GRE) blood stream infections reports October 2003 to September 2004 
			 Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust 73 1 
			 Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 166 0 
			  Notes: Information on deaths due to hospital acquired infections is not available. The Office for National Statistics publishes statistics on deaths with Clostridium difficile(1) or MRSA(2) mentioned on the death certificate. However, no information is available on where these infections were acquired either in terms of hospital or community acquisition or of strategic health authority. (1) Deaths involving Clostridium difficile: England and Wales, 1999 to 2004 Health Statistics Quarterly 30, summer 2006, pp56-60 (2) Deaths involving MRSA: England and Wales, 2000 to 2004 Health Statistics Quarterly 29, spring 2006, pp63-8.  Source:  Health Protection Agency

Healthcare-acquired Infections

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital patients have  (a) contracted and  (b) died from exposure to MRSA or similar infections in each year since 1997.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 5 July 2006
	The information requested is not available. The best available information is from the mandatory surveillance system which provides data on the number of reports of meticillin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream infections from April 2001 to 30 September 2005 as shown in the table. Figures from October 2005 to March 2006 will be published later this month.
	
		
			  MRSA blood stream infections in England from 1 April 2001 to 30 September 2005 
			  Period  Number of MRS  bloodstream infections 
			 1 April 2001 to 30 March 2002 7,281 
			 1 April 2002 to 30 March 2003 7,390 
			 1 April 2003 to 30 March 2004 7,705 
			 1 April 2004 to 30 March 2005 7,214 
			 1 April 2005 to 30 September 2005 3,580 
			  Source:  Health Protection Agency 
		
	
	The total number of reports of Clostridium difficile associated disease in England between January and December 2004 was 44,350 and the total number of reports of clinically significant glycopeptide resistant enterococci blood stream infections in England from October 2003 to September 2004 was 620.
	A national prevalence survey of hospital acquired infection was carried out this spring and interim results will be published in the autumn.
	Information on deaths due to hospital acquired infections is not available. The Office for National Statistics publish statistics on deaths with  Clostridium difficile(1) or MRSA(2) mentioned on the death certificate. However, no information is available on where these infections were acquired, either in terms of hospital or community acquisition or of strategic health authority.
	(1) Deaths involving Clostridium difficile. England and Wales, 1999 to 2004 Health Statistics Quarterly 30, summer 2006, pp56-60
	(2 )Deaths involving MRSA: England and Wales, 2000 to 2004 Health Statistics Quarterly 29, spring 2006, pp63-8.

Human Pappiloma Virus Vaccine

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the human pappilloma virus vaccines will be considered at the meeting of the joint council on vaccination and immunisation in February 2007.

Caroline Flint: A joint committee on vaccination and immunisation subgroup met in May 2006 to review all available information on human pappilloma virus vaccines and will hold further meetings during 2006, reporting to the main JCVI committee once they have all the relevant information.

Human Pappiloma Virus Vaccine

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress the Government have made on its plans to introduce the human pappilloma virus vaccine; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The joint committee on vaccination and immunisation subgroup met in May 2006 to review all the available information on human pappilloma virus vaccines and will hold further meetings during 2006. Implementation plans will be based on the advice of JCVI as to the most effective immunisation schedule should HPV vaccine be judged to be beneficial.

Manor Hospital, Walsall

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects a decision to be announced on approval for the contracts for the major development at the NHS Manor hospital, Walsall.

Caroline Flint: The announcement of decisions following the private finance initiative revalidation exercise will be in two waves. It is anticipated that the announcement for schemes which are most advancedgenerally those that have already appointed their preferred bidderwill be in late July. The remainder will be announced later in the year.

NHS Finances

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the level of NHS trust deficits in areas with greater than average deprivation; and what steps she is taking to reduce differences in the level of deficits between areas of above and below average deprivation;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the level of NHS trust deficits in  (a) rural and  (b) urban areas; and what steps she is taking to reduce the difference between the level of deficits in each type of area.

Andy Burnham: Our analysis of the 2005-06 financial positions of national health service organisations has shown that there is no strong relationship between financial performance and any single factor, including the level of deprivation and the extent to which areas are urban or rural.
	A full report on 2005-06 NHS financial performance is available in the Library.

NHS Finances

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the values were of purchases of health care from non-NHS providers by  (a) Rochdale,  (b) Bury,  (c) North Manchester and  (d) Oldham primary care trust in each year since 2001.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Primary care truststotal purchase of health care from non-national health service bodies 
			  000 
			  PCT Name  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Rochdale n/a n/a 9,081 5,422 5,166 
			 Bury n/a n/a 214 287 5,913 
			 North Manchester 615 1,999 31 6,001 1,472 
			 Oldham n/a n/a 11,660 11,988 11,652 
			  Source: Annual financial returns of the named primary care trusts.

NHS Professionals

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is responsible for auditing NHS Professionals.

Rosie Winterton: The annual accounts of NHS Professionals are audited by the National Audit Office.

NHS Professionals

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage mark-up NHS Professionals adds in each region to the rates charged by private agencies for the supply of each category of temporary staff.

Rosie Winterton: NHS Professionals does not place any mark up, or agency handling charge, on agency invoices.

NHS Professionals

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to change the structure of NHS Professionals.

Rosie Winterton: The future organisational form of NHS Professionals is yet to be determined. My officials are working with NHS Professionals on its future structure.

NHS Professionals

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when NHS Professionals is budgeted to break even in its annual running costs. [83748 ]
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is working closely with NHS Professionals to ensure it becomes self-financing from 2007-08.

NHS Professionals

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the set-up costs of NHS Professionals; and what the annual running costs have been in each year since its establishment.

Rosie Winterton: The Government initially invested 7 million in the pilot sites of St. Mary's national health service Trust, Paddington; Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust; West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service; John Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust; East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust; North Bristol NHS Trust in 2001-02 and a further 24 million to roll out operations more widely in 2002-03. NHS Professionals became a special health authority on 1 January 2004 and details of its running costs are available in its annual accounts which are available in the Library.

Nurse Training

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment she has made of the syllabus for nurse training; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  whether there is a preliminary training school module in nurse training;
	(3)  in what module of nurse training discipline and courtesy is taught.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 6 July 2006
	The Department is not responsible for setting curricula for nurse training. The Nursing and Midwifery Council sets the standards for registration as a qualified nurse or midwife. The education standards set by the NMC are at a broad level of principle and are used by higher education institutions to inform their curriculum development. The NMC closely monitors the standards of pre-registration education and quality assures courses to ensure that they are teaching the required skills and knowledge to the right standard. This includes the development of communication skills, both with patients and with other members of the health care team.

Palliative Care for the Terminally Ill

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received about the Palliative Care for the Terminally Ill Bill; how many  (a) supported and  (b) opposed the Bill; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: We have received 20 letters concerning the Palliative Care for the Terminally Ill Bill forwarded by hon. Members on behalf of constituents, and one from a member of the public directly. All of these were supportive of the Bill.
	The Government are still considering the Bill, and will make their position known in due course.

Performance Management

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures her Department has introduced to improve performance management and local delivery monitoring.

Andy Burnham: The Department has an established system of local delivery planning over the past decade that establishes trajectories for delivery of the key national targets set out in the planning and priorities framework 'National Standards, Local Action' (2005).
	To support this, monthly and quarterly returns from the national health service are collected which report local progress against these plans. Under the performance regime established in 'Shifting the Balance of Power' (2001) and 'The NHS Improvement Plan' (2004), the Department performance manages strategic health authorities, and SHAs performance manage delivery by NHS trusts and primary care trusts.
	The monthly and quarterly returns are routinely revised to ensure that the data tracks the most significant issues that drive delivery.
	'Health Reform in England' (2005) signals developments in the performance regime over the next few years, especially an emphasis on early warning of potential poor performance.

Physiotherapists

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for physiotherapy in each year since 1997.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Reproductive Health

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she has received about  (a) death and  (b) disability resulting from the contraceptive pill in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: In the last year, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which is the Government agency responsible for evaluating the safety, quality and efficacy of all licensed medicines, has received eight reports of suspected adverse drug reactions in association with the use of a contraceptive pill that were considered to be disabling or incapacitating by the reporter.
	The reporting of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily mean that the drug was responsible. It is possible that, in some cases, a new or underlying medical condition or concomitant medication may have been responsible. In two of these cases, (an)other medicine/medicines were also considered to be causally related to the reaction by the reporter. Furthermore, the coincidental occurrence of some adverse events in women taking hormonal contraceptives is inevitable given their widespread use.
	Regarding the number of suspected reactions with a fatal outcome that have been reported, the MHRA is unable to release information when it relates to five or fewer cases of any suspected ADRs in order to prevent identification of the patients or the reporter. For this reason we are unable to disclose the exact number of reported cases.

Turnaround Teams

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been paid by  (a) Yorkshire Wolds and Coast primary care trust and  (b) other PCTs in turnaround to (i) Ernst and Young and (ii) other companies assisting with turnaround.

Andy Burnham: This information is being collected for the Health Select Committee and is not yet ready for release.

Vaccine Damage Payments

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vaccine damage payments were made in respect of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in each of the last five years; and what proportion this represents of  (a) all vaccine damage payments and  (b) all doses of measles, mumps and rubella.

Anne McGuire: I have been asked to reply.
	The Vaccine Damage Payments Unit (VDPU) do not hold information about specific vaccinations linked to successful claims. Claimants are asked to specify on the claim form all the vaccinations that the disabled person has received, not just the vaccine that is claimed to have caused the disablement. As a number of vaccinations are often given in close proximity, often on the same day, it is not always possible to state categorically which has caused the adverse reaction. It is therefore not possible to state how many vaccine damage payments have been made in respect of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
	 (a) The VDPU does however record details of all the vaccinations noted on the claim form. Out of 24 successful awards in the last five years, there have been two where the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine was among those listed on the claim form.
	 (b) If those two claims were awarded in respect of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine this would represent one per 4.3 million doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

Waiting Times

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for functional electrical stimulation treatment in  (a) England and  (b) Dorset in the last year for which figures are available.

Andy Burnham: The official figures on waiting times show the length of time that people currently on the list for treatment have been waiting. The data are collected at consultant-led speciality level, for example neurology and clinical neuro-physiology. It is not possible to split this data down to show waiting list data for specific operations and treatments such as functional electrical stimulation.

TREASURY

Air Passenger Duty

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the case for  (a) changes in the basis of air passenger duty from payment per passenger to payment per flight and  (b) relating the level of such payments to the amount of carbon dioxide and other pollutants produced during the flight; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: A discussion paper published jointly by Her Majesty's Treasury and the Department for Transport in March 2003, entitled Aviation and the Environment: Using Economic Instruments, considered the role of economic instruments and the environmental costs of aviation. This was also considered in the Air Transport White Paper, The Future of Air Transport, published on 16 December 2003 and in chapter 5 of Aviation and Global Warming, published by the Department for Transport on 10 February 2004.
	The Air Transport White Paper set out the conclusions of the Government's analysis, including our view that aviation should be brought within the EU emissions trading scheme by 2008, as the most effective way of tackling the climate change impact. Along with other measures to tackle local environmental impacts, this will help to ensure that the air transport sector meets its environmental costs.
	In the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2006 the Government stated that:
	the Government is aware that economic instruments, including APD, may provide a route through which improved environmental performance in the aviation sector can be incentivised and so will continue to explore options for developing further such measures.

Air Passenger Duty

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason transit flights are exempt from air passenger duty; and what estimate he has made of how much extra revenue would be raised per annum were such flights subject to this duty.

John Healey: Not all transit flights are exempt from air passenger duty and in order to qualify specific criteria must be met. These are set out in Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs' public notice 550, which gives details of the specific requirements of the exemption criteria. This notice can be obtained from the Revenue and Customs website at www.hmrc.gov.uk
	Exempting connecting flights ensures that passengers are not taxed twice for a journey when making a connecting flight within the UK, or that if they are entering the UK in transit to an end destination outside the UK they are not taxed merely for the short stopover in the UK that is necessary to catch a connecting flight.
	HMRC does not collect data on the number of transit passengers that pass through UK airports, and therefore we have not made any analysis on the extra revenue that charging APD on these passengers would raise.

Arms Imports

Nick Harvey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2006,  Official Report, column 5767W, on AK-47s, what UK custom entry clearance has been issued to UK based companies for the importation of pallets of small arms from Bosnia since June 2003.

Dawn Primarolo: Since June 2003 UK Customs have issued no entry clearances to UK companies in respect of items that might be classed as small arms under commodity code 9302 or 9304.

Bank Notes

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expected period of use is of the  (a) 5,  (b) 10,  (c) 20 and  (d) 50 note.

Edward Balls: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the then Financial Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms), to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 14 March 2005,  Official Report, column 84W.

Barker Review

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Barker review of land use planning policy to report.

John Healey: The interim report of the Barker review of land use planning was published on 4 July 2006. The final report is due later in 2006.

Child Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of child tax credits on child poverty since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Between 1998-99 and 2004-05, 700,000 children have been lifted out of relative poverty. Macroeconomic stability, active labour market policies such as the new deal, policies to make work pay such as the working tax credit, and financial support for families, including the child tax credit, have all contributed to this success.
	Since 2002-03, the last year before child tax credit and working tax credit were introduced, 200,000 children have been lifted out of relative poverty.
	As a result of the Government's reforms to the tax and benefit system since 1997, by October 2006, in real terms, families with children will be, on average, 1,500 a year better off, while those in the poorest fifth will be, on average, 3,400 per year better off.

Civil Service, Wales

Albert Owen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he plans to take to ensure that civil service job cuts in Wales do not adversely affect economic regeneration of Objective 1 areas.

Stephen Timms: The Government are committed to strengthening the Welsh economy and regenerating Objective 1 areas.
	Following Sir Michael Lyons' independent review of public sector relocation the Government undertook to relocate 20,000 posts out of London and the south-east by 2010. By April 2006 7,800 posts had moved to every country and region in the UK, including more than 1,600 to Wales.
	Since 1997 employment in Wales has increased by more than 10 per cent., with an additional 123,000 jobs created.
	In order to target resources into improving key front-line services, the Government are committed to reducing the number of civil servants engaged in non-frontline functions by 70,600 (net) by 2008. Departments are responsible for implementing their work force targets and HM Treasury does not hold data showing the location of each affected site.
	Regeneration spending, including the Objective 1 programme, is a devolved matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

Correspondence

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2006,  Official Report, column 410W, on correspondence, what estimate he has made of the cost of answering the question; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: It is not possible to identify separately the average cost of officials' time in replying to letters from hon. Members and members of the public. Such correspondence is often of a varied and complex nature. Therefore any exercise to determine the average cost in officials' time in responding to letters would incur disproportionate cost.
	It is not possible to identify separately stationery and postage costs for the Department when replying to correspondence from hon. Members and members of the public.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Chairman of HM Revenue and Customs will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 18 May regarding a constituent; and what the reason is for the delay in replying.

Dawn Primarolo: I understand that HMRC wrote to the hon. Member on 6 July and that they will be writing again very shortly.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Tax Credit Office will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 23 May; ref: 2006-05 008197.

Dawn Primarolo: The Tax Credit Office replied to the hon. Member on 6 July.

Correspondence

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter of 2 May 2006 from the hon. Member for Castle Point enclosing one from Mr. Layzell of 27 April 2006.

Dawn Primarolo: I have done so.

Double Taxation Agreements

Quentin Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many requests from overseas tax authorities HM Revenue and Customs has received in the past three years pursuant to the operation of actual assistance provisions of UK double taxation agreements; from which countries these requests have been received; what amount of tax was claimed in each case; and what checks HMRC applied in pursuance of provisions corresponding to  (a) article 27 para 2 and  (b) other articles of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development mutual convention to satisfy itself that the tax they were asked to collect was properly due and payable.

Dawn Primarolo: At present the UK has no provisions in any of its double taxation agreements that correspond to article 27 of the OECD model convention nor has it ratified the Council of Europe/OECD convention on mutual administrative assistance in tax matters.

Draft Bills

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what draft Bills have been produced by his Department since October 2005; how many were  (a) examined and  (b) are planned to be examined by (i) a departmental Select Committee and (ii) a Joint Committee; what draft Bills are still to be produced by his Department; when each is to be published; how many clauses each has; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his practice is regarding meeting, discussing and taking into account the views and opinions of  (a) private individuals and  (b) representatives of organisations when drawing up and framing legislation to be introduced by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Treasury has not introduced any Bills in draft in the period covered by the hon. Member's question. Announcements on future legislation and future draft legislation that will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny will be indicated in the Queen's Speech.
	The Treasury seeks a full range of views when drawing up and framing legislation. Consultation is a key part of the policy making process, both formal and informal. The Treasury holds regular meetings with representatives of the principal stakeholder groups for our policy areas and with relevant experts. Organisations and individuals can also contribute to the Treasury's formal consultations that abide by the code of conduct on consultation. As required by the code, the Department then gives feedback on the responses received and on how the consultation process influenced the policy decision.

Economically Inactive Persons

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the ratio is of economically inactive persons to the number of persons engaged in manufacturing industry in  (a) England,  (b) Wales and  (c) Scotland.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 10 July 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the ratio of economically inactive persons to the number of persons employed in manufacturing in (a) England (b) Wales and (c) Scotland. I am replying in her absence. (83803)
	The attached table gives the ratio of persons economically inactive to people employed in manufacturing for the 3 countries of Great Britain for the period three month ending March 2006.
	Estimates are taken from the Office for National Statistics' Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Economically inactive people and people employed in the manufacturing( 1 ) industry by country of residence for people of working age( 2)  not seasonally adjusted 
			  Three months ending March 2006 
			   Economically inactive (Thousand)  Employed in manufacturing industry (Thousand)  Ratio( 3) 
			 England 6,455 3,008 2.1 
			 Wales 446 183 2.4 
			 Scotland 652 254 2.6 
			 (1) Standard Industrial Classification (SIC92) code D. (2) Men aged 16-64 or women 16-59. (3) Economically active people divided by the number of those in employment in manufacturing industry.  Source: ONS Labour Force Survey

Education Capital Projects

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  which education capital projects are VAT exempt;
	(2)  what criteria are used to decide what type of education capital projects are VAT exempt;
	(3)  what representations he has received from the further education sector about the VAT status of further education capital projects;
	(4)  what assessment his Department has made of the impact of VAT on further education capital projects;
	(5)  if he will take steps to ensure that further education and schools capital projects receive the same treatment.

Dawn Primarolo: VAT is chargeable on the construction of all buildings in the education sector, except those that will be used at least 90 per cent. for a relevant charitable purpose, such as the provision of free-of-charge education by a charity. In such cases, construction of the building is VAT zero rated. VAT agreements with our European partners mean that, while we can maintain this relief for the construction of charitable buildings, it cannot be extended further.
	However, where VAT is chargeable on capital projects, it can be reclaimed from HMRC to the extent that it relates to taxable business use of the facilities. In addition, local authorities can usually reclaim from HMRC all VAT costs relating to the educational institutions that they maintain.
	Refund arrangements for local authorities reflect a commitment, made when VAT was first introduced, that VAT would not fall as a burden on local taxation. Accordingly, since 1997, bodies have been admitted to these refund arrangements only where they undertake a function ordinarily carried on by local government and have the power to draw their funding directly from local taxation. Unlike local authority maintained institutions, further education colleges do not meet the second of these conditions.
	It is reasonable to expect that bids for public funding by further education colleges should take into account that they are not eligible for the VAT refund arrangements that apply for local authority maintained institutions. However, no detailed assessment has been made of the impact of VAT on further education capital projects.
	Representations are regularly made to Treasury Ministers by MPs and stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including VAT and extended use of educational facilities.

Engagements

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many military establishments he has visited in each of the last five years.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth) on 13 January 2005,  Official Report, column 595W.

Extradition

James Brokenshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has made to the Home Secretary on the taking of emergency measures to alter the Extradition Act 2003.

Stephen Timms: Treasury Ministers discuss a wide range of issues on a regular basis with their colleagues in the Home Office and other Departments.

Financial Capability

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which citizens advice bureaux are working in partnership with the personal finance education group on financial capability in schools; and what plans he has to expand this project.

Edward Balls: I welcome the excellent work that citizens advice bureaux are doing with PFEG to improve the financial capability of students in schools, including the successful pilot they ran with independent financial advisers as part of the FSA-led national strategy for financial capability. In addition, I welcome the involvement of citizens advice bureaux in the 45 million financial inclusion fund project to deliver a significant increase in the capacity of free face-to-face debt advice for the financially excluded. I look forward to the outcome of these important projects with interest.

Financial Support (Pregnancy)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of providing financial assistance to low-income families during pregnancy; and whether there are any plans to provide any such financial support.

Dawn Primarolo: Statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance and the Sure Start maternity grant provide financial support for low-income families during pregnancy. Statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance are worth 108.85 a week for up to 26 weeks, and may be taken from 11 weeks prior to the birth of the child. The Sure Start maternity grant is worth 500 per baby and may be claimed from the 29th week of pregnancy. The Government also run the welfare food scheme, which provides free milk, infant formula and vitamins to pregnant women on low incomes.

Health Statistics

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate was of  (a) cancers and  (b) stroke in West Suffolk in each of the past five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 10 July 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the rate was of  (a) cancers and  (b) stroke in West Suffolk in each of the past five years. I am replying in her absence.
	 A: Cancersincidence
	The latest available rates for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2003. Incidence rates are not available centrally for parliamentary constituencies. Cancer incidence rates for all malignant cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer for the years 1999-2003 are given in Table 1 below for the Forest Heath and St. Edmundsbury local authorities.
	 B: Strokeincidence
	There is no complete register of stroke cases. Information is available centrally on emergency admission to hospital from the NHS Hospital Episode System (HES), and on death registrations.
	Figures on emergency admissions to hospital for strokes can be found on the Clinical and Health Outcomes Knowledge Base website: http://www.nchod.nhs.uk/. (Table reference numbers: 10C_5281SR7CM_04-V2 (males) 10C_5281SR7CF_04-V2 (females)). Figures are available for England, Government Office Regions, Strategic Health Authorities, Local Authorities and Primary Care Organisations. The latest year for which data are available is for the financial year 2003/04.
	 C: Cancers and Strokemortality
	Mortality rates for parliamentary constituencies cannot be provided because population estimates are not available for these areas. Figures in Table 2 below are provided for the local authorities making up the requested constituency. The figures for 2000 have been adjusted to take account of revisions to the International Classification of Diseases where appropriate.
	The introduction of ICD-10 for coding cause of death in England and Wales in 2001 means that data for cancer are not completely comparable with data for years before this date. The effect of the change in classification in 2001 on deaths from these causes is described in a report published in May 2002: Office for National Statistics. Results of the ICD-10 bridge coding study, England and Wales, 1999. Health Statistics Quarterly 14 (2002), 75-83.
	For cancer (malignant neoplasms) the introduction of ICD-10 caused an increase of 2.3 per cent. in the number of deaths coded to these conditions in England and Wales. Deaths in 2000 from these causes have been adjusted to provide rates which are comparable with those for 2001-2004.
	The local authority of Forest Heath falls wholly within West Suffolk parliamentary constituency. The local authority of St. Edmundsbury comprises parts of West Suffolk, South Suffolk and Bury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituencies.
	
		
			  Table 1: Incidence rates( 1)  per million population for all malignant cancers( 2) , by sex, registered in the local authorities of Forest Heath and St. Edmundsbury, 1999-2003 
			   All cancers excluding nmsc 
			   Male  Female 
			 1999 3,849 3,671 
			 2000 3,611 3,432 
			 2001 3,706 3,295 
			 2002 4,040 3,500 
			 2003 4,430 3,495 
			 (1) Rates per million population standardised to the European Standard Population. (2) All malignant cancers are defined by codes C00-C97 excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (nmsc) code C44 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD 10).  Source:  Office for National Statistics. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Death rates( 1)  for cancer and stroke( 2)  for the local authorities of Forest Heath and St. Edmundsbury( 3) , 2001-04 
			   Death rates cancer  Death rates stroke 
			   Forest Heath  St. Edmundsbury  Forest Heath  St. Edmundsbury 
			 2000 1,961 1,590 510 601 
			 2001 1,447 1,723 767 679 
			 2002 2,145 1,676 610 664 
			 2003 2,095 1,845 560 553 
			 2004 1,609 1,815 541 464 
			 (1) Rates per 1,000,000 population standardised to the European Standard Population. (2) The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), 2000 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10), 2001-2004. The codes used are: Cancer ICD9 140-208, ICD10 C00-C97 and Stroke ICD9 430-438, ICD10 160-169. Deaths were selected using the original underlying cause. (3) Usual residents of this area. (4) Deaths registered in each calendar year..

Health Statistics

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of infant mortality was in West Suffolk in each of the past five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 July 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the rate of infant mortality was in West Suffolk in each of the past five years. (82730)
	The infant mortality rates for West Suffolk parliamentary constituency from 2000 to 2004 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Infant mortality rate( 1)  for West Suffolk parliamentary constituency( 2) , 2000-04 
			   Number 
			 2000 4.5 
			 2001 5.9 
			 2002 2.3 
			 2003 5.2 
			 2004 7.0 
			 (1 )Deaths aged under one year per 1,000 live births. (2) West Suffolk parliamentary constituency boundary based on May 2006 All Fields Postcode File.

Health Statistics

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) perinatal and  (b) infant mortality rates were in each health authority in England in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 July 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the  (a) perinatal and  (b) infant mortality rates were in each health authority in England in each of the last five years. (83198)
	The perinatal and infant mortality rates for the health authorities in England from 2000 to 2004 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are given in the attached table.
	
		
			  Perinatal mortality rate( l) , England health authorities( 2) , 2000-04 
			  Strategic health authority  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 England 8.2 8.0 8.4 8.5 8.1 
			   
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 6.9 6.6 6.6 7.3 6.4 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 7.0 8.3 7.8 7.5 8.4 
			 Essex 7.2 6.0 8.5 7.1 8.1 
			 North West London 8.6 8.8 9.4 8.3 8.6 
			 North Central London 8.4 9.9 9.0 8.5 9.3 
			 North East London 10.1 9.3 9.4 10.9 9.5 
			 South East London 9.6 9.5 10.2 11.6 9.7 
			 South West London 8.3 6.9 8.0 7.6 7.0 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 7.8 7.8 8.5 7.6 7.3 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 9.2 8.0 7.8 7.9 8.0 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 8.2 6.0 7.7 7.0 7.6 
			 West Yorkshire 10.6 8.4 10.3 10.1 9.4 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 8.6 8.4 7.8 9.4 7.2 
			 Greater Manchester 9.1 9.4 8.8 9.7 8.9 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 7.9 8.2 8.5 8.1 8.2 
			 Thames Valley 6.9 8.3 7.4 7.3 7.3 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 6.7 7.0 6.3 6.5 6.7 
			 Kent and Medway 6.2 6.8 6.8 7.9 7.0 
			 Surrey and Sussex 6.5 5.1 6.9 6.3 6.8 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 6.9 7.8 6.9 6.2 7.1 
			 South West Peninsula 6.1 6.5 7.1 8.3 8.5 
			 Dorset and Somerset 6.7 6.6 6.5 6.9 5.7 
			 South Yorkshire 9.4 8.0 8.5 9.1 8.7 
			 Trent 7.3 7.8 7.9 9.7 7.9 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 8.4 8.1 9.3 9.0 8.7 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 9.2 9.2 8.3 9.3 7.6 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 10.8 10.0 11.8 12.1 11.3 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire 8.1 7.1 8.6 7.2 7.9 
			 (1) Stillbirths and deaths aged under one week per 1,000 live and stillbirths. (2) Health authority boundaries based on May 2006 All Fields Postcode File.

Health Statistics

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the most recent infant mortality rate was in  (a) Stoke-on-Trent,  (b) the west midlands and  (c) England.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 10 June 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the most recent infant mortality rate was in (a) Stoke-on-Trent, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England. I am replying in her absence. (80606)
	The table below gives the infant mortality rate for the most recent year available.
	
		
			  Infant mortality rate( 1) , Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands and England, 2004 
			   Rate 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 7.7 
			 West Midlands 6.3 
			 England 5.0 
			 (1) Rate per 1,000 live births.

HM Customs and Excise

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials were employed by HM Customs and Excise in each year since 1997; and how many were front-line staff in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the full-time equivalent numbers of staff employed by HM Customs and Excise at 1 April 1997 to 1 April 2005, split between those in front-line work (i.e. dealing with traders and customers) and those in support and policy work.
	
		
			  Year at 1 April  Front line  Support and policy  Total 
			 1997 19,236 4,256 23,492 
			 1998 19,476 4,240 23,716 
			 1999 18,704 4,171 22,875 
			 2000 18,659 3,933 22,595 
			 2001 18,723 3,822 22,545 
			 2002 18,408 3,877 22,285 
			 2003 18,042 4,497 22,539 
			 2004 18,591 4,392 22,983 
			 2005 19,219 4,138 23,353

HM Revenue and Customs Offices

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether local HM Revenue and Customs offices are meeting their targets for responding to postal enquiries; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC has a service standard which aims to deal with 80 per cent. of postal contact within 15 working days of receipt and 95 per cent. within 40 working days, against which the Department achieved cumulative results in 2005-06 of 79.2 per cent. and 91.7 per cent. respectively. Results for 2006-07 are not yet available.

HM Revenue and Customs Offices

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the latest estimate is of the number of open cases at each HM Revenue and Customs office in each month since January 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC does not have records of open cases at the level of each local HMRC office.

HM Revenue and Customs Offices

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people HM Revenue and Customs employs in collecting taxes; how many there were  (a) 5,  (b) 10 and  (c) 20 years ago; what his estimate is of the cost of tax collection in 2006-07; and what it was (i) 5, (ii) 10 and (iii) 20 years ago.

Dawn Primarolo: The average number of HM Revenue and Customs staff employed in collecting taxes in 2005-06 was 93,574.
	HM Revenue and Customs estimate for 2006-07 anticipates the cost of collecting taxes in that financial year to be 4,122 million.
	The number of staff involved in collected taxes and the associated costs for 5, 10 and 20 years ago can be obtained from the annual reports of HM Customs and Excise and HM Inland Revenue for the financial years 1985-86, 1995-96 and 2000-01. These publications Command Documents 9831, 5, 230, 3427, 3446, 5304 and 5309can be obtained from the Library of the House.

HM Revenue and Customs Offices

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on plans for the future of the HM Revenue and Customs offices in Yeovil.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC have no plans at present to alter their presence in Yeovil.

Income Statistics (West Lancashire)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the income per head was in West Lancashire constituency in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest estimates for the mean and median of total income (for taxpayers only) by constituency can be found in table 3.15 Income and tax by Parliamentary Constituency on HM Revenue and Customs website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm#315.
	The information is based on the latest surveys of personal incomes (2003-04 and 2003-04).
	Because sample sizes at constituency level are small and estimates can demonstrate a large variability from year to year, inference from the information in the table for 2003-04 should take into account the confidence intervals in table 3.15a Income and tax by Parliamentary Constituency, Confidence Intervals.
	Similar information including non taxpayers is not available.

Income Tax

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the standard income tax reliefs are; and which attract relief at the  (a) basic rate and  (b) payer's marginal rates.

Dawn Primarolo: The standard income tax reliefs are the personal allowance, 5,035 in 2006-07, and the age related levels of the personal allowance, 7,280 in 2006-07 for people aged 65-74 and 7,420 for people aged 75 and over. All attract relief at the marginal rate.

Incomes (Tax Allowances)

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the loss of revenue to the Exchequer would be if allowances against tax on incomes were raised by  (a) 50,  (b) 100,  (c) 150,  (d) 200,  (e) 250 and  (f) 300;
	(2)  what increase in tax revenue would follow from raising the standard rate of income tax by  (a) two pence and  (b) six pence at current levels of income and with no changes in the income tax allowances and rates.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested can be calculated from the figures shown in table 1.6 Direct effects of illustrative tax changes on HM Revenue and Customs website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/menu.htm.
	The cost of changing the personal allowance or the basic income tax rate is proportional to the changes to allowances and rates provided in the table.

Inheritance Tax

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residents in the West Lancashire constituency paid inheritance tax in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Figures for estates paying inheritance tax are not available at local levels.

Judicial Review

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what occasions an  (a) individual and  (b) organisation has applied for a judicial review against his Department in each year since 1997; and what the (i) reason for the review and (ii) outcome was of each.

John Healey: Our records show that the number of occasions on which persons have written a letter before action or instituted a claim for judicial review against HM Treasury have been one each in 1997 and 1998, three in 1999, 0 in 2000, five in 2001, 0 in 2002, two in 2003, one in 2004 and four in 2005.
	There were three applications for judicial review in 2005. Two of these were unsuccessful at permission stage and the other one was withdrawn on the basis of a settlement agreed between the parties. The former cases concerned the award of a waste management contract and a refusal to permit the payment of taxes into a separate fund out of which military expenditure is not paid. The latter case concerned the operating and financial review for public companies. It is not possible to provide similar information for cases in earlier years without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The Treasury has been involved in other litigation since 1997 in addition to the cases mentioned but it is not possible to distinguish those further cases which were judicial reviews without incurring disproportionate cost.

Local Government Workers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the UK economy of the local government workers strike on 28 March.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Minimum Wage

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged  (a) 22 years and over,  (b) 18 to 21 years and  (c) under 18 years are receiving the minimum wage in each (i) London borough and (ii) constituency; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 July 2006:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to ask how many people aged (a) 22 years and over, (b) 18 to 21 years and (c) under 18 years are receiving the minimum wage in each (i) London borough and (ii) national constituency. (82934)
	Estimates for the number of jobs paid at the minimum wage for Parliamentary Constituencies and Local Authorities are not available. However the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates the number of jobs paid less than national minimum wage rates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions. A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles and data can be found on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5837 Pos=1ColRank=1Rank=272

Named Day Questions

James Brokenshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer  (a) how many named day written parliamentary questions his Department received in each of the last three years;  (b) what percentage of named day written parliamentary questions his Department answered within the requested time limit; and  (c) what the average delay was for those questions which were not answered within the requested time limit.

John Healey: Information in respect of  (a) and  (b) for the 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 sessions is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Session  Questions tabled  Percentage answered on the named day 
			 2003-04 518 74.7 
			 2004-05 287 79.4 
			 2005-06 762 72.6 
		
	
	The information sought at  (c) could only be calculated and related to the pattern of sittings of the House of Commons at disproportionate cost.

National Insurance Contributions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people his Department calculated as being liable for payment of national insurance contributions in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the estimated number of individuals making national insurance contributions is shown in Table CQY 1.0 on the Department for Work and Pensions internet website http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/dsu/contsandqualify/Conts_and_Qual_Years_tables05.xls

Official Visit (Nigeria)

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on which date the Prime Minister gave written approval for his trip to Nigeria on 22 May.

Gordon Brown: Arrangements were in line with normal procedures.

Orphan Funds

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the total amount of money held in orphan funds in banks and financial institutions.

Edward Balls: The term orphan funds can refer to unclaimed assets. The Government and the industry have agreed that the definition of an unclaimed asset should generally cover bank and building society accounts where there has been no customer activity for a period of 15 years as that will best identify those accounts that are genuinely unclaimed. On this basis, initial record searches by the industry suggest that several hundred million pounds may currently lie unclaimed.
	Orphan funds may also refer to certain assets of insurance companies. The Treasury has made no official estimate of the value of these assets.

Pensions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what annual savings to 2012 he estimates would be made if the lifetime allowance for tax privileged pension savings was frozen at 1.5 million.

Edward Balls: As announced in Budget 2004 the lifetime allowance on the amount of pension saving that can benefit from tax relief has been set for years to and including financial year 2010-11.
	The revenue yield is very difficult to estimate and the figures provided are consequently uncertain. In particular there are consequences for transitional protection arrangements and scope for behavioural change. The estimate is based on the number of individuals constrained in their contributions to pension saving by the LTA.
	If the LTA were fixed at 1.5 million for a further five years until 6 April 2012, we estimate reduced pension contributions would yield additional income tax of around 150 million, aggregated over five years. This estimate takes into account the estimated reduction in tax yields as a result of reduced pensions in payment these contributions would otherwise have funded.

Personal Finance Education

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Treasury, the Financial Services Authority and the Department for Education and Skills will measure the effectiveness of personal finance education being introduced into the school curriculum.

Edward Balls: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority will monitor the effectiveness of personal finance education in the curriculum to ensure it remains current and appropriate for the needs of individuals and the nation. The FSA recently conducted a benchmark survey measuring the extent to which personal finance education is being taught in schools and the confidence of teachers in delivering it. This survey will be repeated every four to five years.

Population Statistics

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the population of  (a) the UK and  (b) each region of the UK is (i) under 25, (ii) between 25 and 34, (iii) between 35 and 44, (iv) between 45 and 54, (v) between 55 and 64 and (vi) over 65 years of age.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 July 2006:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question about what percentage of the population of (a) the UK and (b) each region of the UK is (i) under 25, (ii) between 25 and 34, (iii) between 35 and 44, (iv) between 45 and 54, (v) between 55 and 64 and (vi) over 65 years of age. (82922)
	The latest available data, for mid-2004, are shown in the attached table.
	
		
			  Mid-2004 Population Estimates: Population, percentage in selected age groups, by countries and Government office regions (GOR) within the United Kingdom 
			   Percentage of the population who are aged: 
			 Country /GOR  Under 25  25-34  35-44  45-54  55-64  65 and over 
			 United Kingdom 31 13 15 13 12 16 
			
			 England 31 13 15 13 12 16 
			 North East 31 12 15 14 12 17 
			 North West 32 13 15 13 12 16 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 32 12 15 13 12 16 
			 East Midlands 31 12 15 13 12 16 
			 West Midlands 32 13 15 13 12 16 
			 East 30 13 15 13 12 17 
			 London 32 20 17 11 9 12 
			 South East 31 13 16 13 12 17 
			 South West 29 12 15 13 13 19 
			
			 Wales 31 12 14 13 13 18 
			
			 Scotland 30 13 16 14 12 16 
			
			 Northern Ireland 36 13 15 12 10 14 
			  Note: Percentages may not add due to rounding.  Source: Office for National Statistics

Population Statistics

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the population of  (a) Southend-on-Sea and  (b) Essex was in each year between 1976 and 2005; what it is estimated to be in 2006; and what assessment has been made of the future trend.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 July 2006:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question about what the population of (a) Southend-on-Sea and (b) Essex was in each year between 1976 and 2005; what it is estimated to be in 2006; and what assessment has been made of the future trend. (83457)
	Mid-2005 population estimates for England and Wales are due to be published on 24 August 2006. The attached table therefore provides the requested data for the years 1976 to 2004 and 2003-based projections for 2005 and 2006. In addition, projections for 2011, 2016, 2021, 2026, and 2028 are also shown to indicate future projected trend. These projections show a projected increase in population of 10.5 per cent for Southend and 13.7 per cent for Essex over the 25 years between 2003 and 2028.
	
		
			  Population estimates and projections for Essex( 1)  and Southend-on-Sea 
			   Essex( 1)  Southend-on-Sea 
			  Population Estimates   
			 1976 1,140,600 159,600 
			 1977 1,152,100 157,400 
			 1978 1,163,700 157,300 
			 1979 1,176,200 157,500 
			 1980 1,189,100 157,700 
			 1981 1,196,900 157,600 
			 1982 1,199,700 157,000 
			 1983 1,209,300 156,400 
			 1984 1,216,500 155,500 
			 1985 1,224,800 155,600 
			 1986 1,231,900 156,600 
			 1987 1,239,500 158,300 
			 1988 1,245,100 160,400 
			 1989 1,247,100 160,100 
			 1990 1,247,500 160,600 
			 1991 1,249,100 161,200 
			 1992 1,253,600 162,400 
			 1993 1,255,500 163,500 
			 1994 1,261,600 164,400 
			 1995 1,267,700 163,900 
			 1996 1,273,300 163,300 
			 1997 1,278,300 165,100 
			 1998 1,284,200 163,800 
			 1999 1,295,000 162,900 
			 2000 1,304,400 161,600 
			 2001 1,312,600 160,400 
			 2002 1,318,100 160,400 
			 2003 1,324,100 160,300 
			 2004 1,330,400 159,600 
			
			  Population Projections( 2)   
			 2005 1,337,700 161,000 
			 2006 1,344,500 161,400 
			 2011 1,379,100 164,000 
			 2016 1,416,200 167,500 
			 2021 1,455,100 171,600 
			 2026 1,491,900 175,600 
			 2028 1,505,400 177,100 
			 (1) All data are for current county of Essex which excludes Southend and Thurrock. (2) The population projections data shown in this table are taken from the 2003-based subnational population projections, the latest set of projections currently available. Therefore they may not be consistent with the 2004 mid-year estimate.  Note: Data are rounded to the nearest 100.  Sources: Office For National Statistics.

Poverty, Chester

Christine Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to reduce poverty in the City of Chester since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The Treasury has, in partnership with other Government Departments, tackled poverty and promoted economic opportunity through:
	Promoting macro-economic stability
	Supporting work for those who can and ensuring that work pays, through the new deals, a national minimum wage and the working tax credit
	Providing financial support for groups at particular risk of poverty, such as child Benefit and the child tax for families, and the pension credit for pensioners.
	Across the UK, these measures have helped lift more than a million people out of poverty since 1997. Tax credits are benefiting more than 550,000 families in the north west region, and in the City of Chester, claimant unemployment has fallen by 48 per cent. youth unemployment has fallen by 63 per cent. and long-term unemployment has fallen by 85 per cent.

Public Appointments

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public appointments are within his patronage; what  (a) salary and  (b) other emoluments are attached to each; and what the comparable figures were in (i) 1976, (ii) 1986 and (iii) 1996.

John Healey: Details of the public appointments to bodies sponsored by the Treasury can be found in Public Bodies, copies of which are in the Library. Public Bodies has been published annually since 1980 and the most recent edition provides figures for 2005. Each edition of Public Bodies contains details on the number of public appointments and remuneration details for that particular year. Comparable information for 1976 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Seasonal Workers

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of seasonal workers in  (a) rural areas and  (b) non-rural areas in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about seasonal workers in employment in  (a) rural areas and  (b) non-rural areas in each year since 1997. (82031)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of types of seasonal employment from the annual Local area Labour Force Survey (LLFS) and Annual Population Survey (APS). The urban and rural identifier is not available on the annual datasets.
	The table overleaf shows the available data for the 12 month periods ending from 1999-2005.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Employees in seasonal work, 1999 to 2005, March to February each year, United Kingdom 
			  12 months ending  Thousand 
			 February 1999 106 
			 February 2000 95 
			 February 2001 102 
			 February 2002 87 
			 February 2003 90 
			 February 2004 89 
			 December 2004 93 
			 December 2005 80 
			  Note:  Changes in the estimates from year-to-year should be treated with caution.  Source:  Annual datasets

Sickness Absence

Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days work have been lost through sickness among staff working on tax credits in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of sickness days taken by staff working in the tax credit office in the last three years is:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2002-03 56,345 
			 2003-04 67,085 
			 2004-05 69,060 
		
	
	The figures for 2005-06 are not yet available.

Suicide

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people committed suicide in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) age and  (b) ethnic origin, in each (i) London borough and (ii) constituency; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 July 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people committed suicide, broken down by  (a) age and  (b) ethnic origin, in each of the last five years in each (i) London Borough and (ii) national constituency. (82959)
	Although information on country of birth is collected at death registration, ethnicity is not collected.
	The most recent year for which figures are available is 2005. A table which shows the number of deaths with an underlying cause of suicide or injury/poisoning of undetermined intent by age group for each parliamentary constituency in England and Wales and for each London Borough for the years 2001 to 2005 has been placed in the House of Commons library.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the costs of administering tax credits in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06 and  (c) 2006-07; what the original spending plans were for each year; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 18 October 2006,  Official Report, column 949W and 8 June 2006,  Official Report, column 861W.

Tobacco

Eric Illsley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent discussions his Department has had with the tobacco industry on introducing an anti-counterfeiting labelling scheme for tobacco products;
	(2)  if he will bring forward proposals for introducing an anti-counterfeiting scheme for tobacco products in the UK;
	(3)  to what extent he has examined technological solutions which other countries are using to tackle the trade in counterfeit tobacco.

John Healey: In a paper published at the 2006 BudgetNew Responses to New Challenges: Reinforcing the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling Strategywe announced that Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the tobacco manufacturers would jointly be examining a range of practical measures that could be implemented against counterfeit cigarettes, such as covert markings. HMRC and the largest UK tobacco manufacturers have established a joint working group to identify the best means of detecting counterfeit tobacco products and preventing them from infiltrating the UK retail sector. As part of its work programme, the group has shared experiences of technological anti-counterfeiting measures introduced in other countries. Several possible solutions are now being closely examined by the group, with a view to informing the Government's decisions on the way forward.

Tobacco

Eric Illsley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the money lost to the UK Exchequer through the illicit trade in tobacco in the last three years.

John Healey: The most recent HM Revenue and Customs estimate of the money lost to the UK Exchequer through the illicit trade in tobacco is for 2003-04. The money lost to the UK Exchequer through the illicit trade in tobacco between 2000-01 to 2003-04 for cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco is given in Table 3.3 and Table 3.5 respectively of Measuring Indirect Tax Losses-2005, published by HM Revenue and Customs in December 2005 and available from the House of Commons Library.

Under-age Pregnancy

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many girls under the age of 16 years  (a) became pregnant and  (b) gave birth in each London borough in each of the last five years, broken down by age; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 July 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many girls under the age of 16 years (a) became pregnant and (b) gave birth in each London borough in each of the last five years, broken down by age. (82954)
	(a) Numbers of conceptions to girls aged under 16 in each London Borough for the years 2000-2004 (the most recent year for which figures are available), are shown in the attached table. Figures for 2004 are provisional.
	Conceptions are made up of pregnancies that resulted in a live birth, stillbirth or termination.
	ONS does not publish figures by single year of age below the age of 16 by either local or health authority because of the risk of disclosing individual's information.
	(b) Numbers of maternities in each London Borough for the years 2000-2004 are shown in the attached table.
	Maternity counts are for girls aged under 16 in each year at which either one or more live birth or stillbirth occurred.
	
		
			  (a) Number of conceptions to girls aged under 16 years by area of usual residenceLondon boroughs, 2000-04( 1) 
			  Area of usual residence  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004( 1) 
			 London 1,246 1,252 1,229 1,247 1,127 
			 Barking and Dagenham LB 45 51 43 44 41 
			 Barnet LB 35 34 27 38 34 
			 Bexley LB 22 34 36 27 36 
			 Brent LB 55 52 50 54 49 
			 Bromley LB 35 33 38 39 36 
			 Camden LB 24 22 25 23 14 
			 Croydon LB 78 72 68 57 63 
			 Ealing LB 41 31 32 29 32 
			 Enfield LB 48 43 51 58 46 
			 Greenwich LB 43 51 45 45 49 
			 Hackney LB and City of London 69 62 56 62 52 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham LB 21 22 21 25 11 
			 Haringey LB 60 59 59 46 62 
			 Harrow LB 15 24 21 18 25 
			 Havering LB 31 23 18 29 25 
			 Hillingdon LB 32 37 39 48 50 
			 Hounslow LB 34 38 25 34 36 
			 Islington LB 27 37 30 33 35 
			 Kensington and Chelsea LB 19 14 13 8 5 
			 Kingston upon Thames LB 10 9 8 9 9 
			 Lambeth LB 78 80 95 100 64 
			 Lewisham LB 62 61 70 74 59 
			 Merton LB 34 20 22 27 24 
			 Newham LB 69 71 59 45 47 
			 Redbridge LB 26 26 28 25 25 
			 Richmond upon Thames LB 9 10 9 8 12 
			 Southwark LB 63 68 77 83 66 
			 Sutton LB 17 17 23 25 20 
			 Tower Hamlets LB 39 42 34 28 35 
			 Waltham Forest LB 41 41 49 50 30 
			 Wandsworth LB 44 48 41 39 27 
			 Westminster City of LB 20 20 17 17 8 
			 (1) Figures for 2004 are provisional.  Note: To preserve confidentiality, counts for City of London have been combined with those for Hackney LB. 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Number of maternities to girls aged under 16 years by area of usual residenceLondon boroughs, 2000-04 
			  Area of usual residence  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 London 178 205 197 141 149 
			 Barking and Dagenham LB 5 5 7   
			 Barnet LB  5   5 
			 Bexley LB 6 
			 Brent LB 11 8 11 9 5 
			 Bromley LB 56 
			 Camden LB  5
			 Croydon LB 5 13 13 5 5 
			 Ealing LB 7 6 8   
			 Enfield LB  7  5 6 
			 Greenwich LB 8 8  5 7 
			 Hackney LB and City of London 8 14 9 7 7 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham LB  
			 Haringey LB 10 17 17 10 10 
			 Harrow LB  
			 Havering LB  
			 Hillingdon LB   10  5 
			 Hounslow LB 10 8 5  9 
			 Islington LB 5  5 6  
			 Kensington and Chelsea LB  
			 Kingston upon Thames LB  
			 Lambeth LB 16 13 14 17 11 
			 Lewisham LB 11 10 13 12 7 
			 Merton LB  5
			 Newham LB 14 11 16 10 6 
			 Redbridge LB  10 5 6 5 
			 Richmond upon Thames LB  
			 Southwark LB 11 14 9 13 10 
			 Sutton LB  
			 Tower Hamlets LB   6  7 
			 Waltham Forest LB 5 
			 Wandsworth LB  9 12  5 
			 Westminster City of LB 6 
			  Note:  To preserve confidentiality, counts for City of London have been combined with those for Hackney LB also counts of less than 5 have been suppressed and shown as .

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent officers the Valuation Office Agency employed in 2005-06.

Dawn Primarolo: At March 2006, the Valuation Office Agency employed 4,850 full-time equivalent staff.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press releases the Valuation Office Agency issued in 2005-06.

Dawn Primarolo: In 2005-06 the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) issued five press releases.
	The following press release was distributed to media with national coverage:
	7 June 2005VOA Appoints New Non-Executive Director.
	The agency issued the following press releases locally:
	2 February 2005Businesses in South West Warned to Protect Themselves Against Fraudulent Agents
	24 May 2005Business in Blackpool Warned to Wise Up on Appeals
	27 September 2005The VOA and Kerrier District Council Celebrate 25-year Working Partnership
	22 December 2005-Support and Advice for Householders and Businesses Following Buncefield Explosion.
	Additionally, where it is brought to the VOA's attention that there is a need to warn council taxpayers locally of bogus inspectors, they will issue a standard press releaseAlert for Bogus Council Tax Inspectors.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Drug Smuggling

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British citizens have been convicted of drug smuggling in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) abroad, broken down by country, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Information on British citizens convicted abroad is not available centrally.
	Available data relates to persons found guilty at court or cautioned in England and Wales between 2000 and 2004 for drug trafficking offences. Trafficking offences include: possession with intent to supply, unlawful supply, unlawful production and unlawful import or export. Citizenship details of these offenders are not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Persons found guilty or cautioned for drug trafficking offences( 1)  England and Wales, 2000 to 2004 
			   Number of persons (rounded) 
			 2000 13,930 
			 2001 12,290 
			 2002 12,610 
			 2003 13,470 
			 2004 14,690 
			 (1) Unlawful import and export, unlawful production of drugs (including cannabis), unlawful supply and possession with intent to supply unlawfully.

Air Guns

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many injuries due to air weapons have been recorded in  (a) the constituency of Houghton and Washington, East,  (b) the Northumbria police area and  (c) England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: Data relating to Houghton and Washington, East are not collected centrally. Injuries for Northumbria and England and Wales police from 2000-01 up to and including 2004-05 are given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table a: Air weapon injuries, 2000-01 to 2001-02 
			   Northumbria  England and Wales 
			 2000-01 69 1,821 
			 2001-02 68 1,915 
			  Note:  The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002. Because of this figures before and after that date are not directly comparable. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table b: Air weapon injuries, 2002-03 to 2004-05 
			   Northumbria  England and Wales 
			 2002-03 53 2,377 
			 2003-04 44 2,395 
			 2004-05 45 1,502 
			  Note:  The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002. Because of this figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.

Anti-drugs Initiatives (Departmental Funding)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding his Department is making available for activities to reduce the use of drugs among young people; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office has committed 55.3 million in 2006-07 alongside contributions from other Government Departments to support work on reducing young people's drug use. This includes the contribution to the young people's substance misuse partnership grant made available to local areas in addition to mainstream funds to deliver a comprehensive range of substance misuse interventions for young people; FRANK, the Government's drug awareness campaign, and the Positive Futures social inclusion programme which engages with young people.

Asylum Seekers

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to end the practice of transporting asylum seekers arriving in Northern Ireland to Dungavel dentention centre in Lanarkshire.

Liam Byrne: There are no plans to change the current arrangements whereby individuals in Northern Ireland who are detained under Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 powers are transferred to a detention facility in Great Britain either on the day of detention or within 24 hours. In the majority of cases individuals are, initially, detained at Dungavel house immigration removal centre.

British Muslim Citizenship Toolkits

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British Muslim citizenship 'toolkits' have been dispatched by his Department.

Meg Munn: holding answer 18 May 2006
	I have been asked to reply.
	The development of a British Muslim citizenship toolkit was one of the recommendations of the Preventing Extremism Together report published in November 2005 by work groups from the Muslim community.
	The Government's view is that this toolkit should be developed by Muslim organisations with our support.
	The Government are supporting individuals and organisations to implement the recommendations but responsibility for this lies with the Muslim community. Good progress is being made on a number of the recommendations and the Government are encouraging Muslim organisations to develop this toolkit.

Brothels

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) brothels and  (b) massage parlours have been shut down by the police in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not available centrally. For the future, we are looking to introduce monitoring arrangements as part of the prostitution strategy.

Child Rape

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) minimum,  (b) maximum and  (c) average sentence was imposed for child rape in (i) Luton, (ii) Bedfordshire and (iii) England and Wales in 2005-06.

Gerry Sutcliffe: According to information reported to the Home Office, 339 persons were sentenced for rape of a child under 16 in England and Wales in 2004, the latest year for which data are currently available. Where an offender was sentenced for more than one offence the statistics relate to where this offence attracted the longest sentence. The average custodial sentence length, excluding 21 life sentences, was 93.9 months.
	Minimum and maximum sentences can be affected by errors in the data reported or may reflect very specific circumstances for a particular case. For this reason we have excluded the 5 per cent. of cases getting the longest sentences and the 5 per cent. of cases getting the shortest sentence to give a more robust estimate of the typical range of sentences given. This shows that 90 per cent. of cases received a sentence of between 36 months and life.
	Figures reported to the Home Office for Luton and for Bedfordshire were too small for the corresponding figures to be meaningful.

Child Welfare

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are followed to safeguard the welfare of dependent children when single parents with custody are given a custodial sentence immediately following conviction for an offence.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the rare event that this situation arises, the court duty probation staff should offer assistance. In cases where they are not available, and court staff are made aware of an urgent child care need, an appropriate member of staff will contact the relevant children's services. Prison staff will also assist prisoners with any urgent issues on reception into custody, including child care. We recognise the need to strengthen such arrangements and the national offender management service will achieve this as part of the framework for the children and families of offenders which it is developing.

Colnbrook Detention Centre

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees at Colnbrook detention centre were on hunger strike on 28 June.

Liam Byrne: I am advised that Immigration and Nationality Directorate records indicate that, at Colnbrook removal centre on 28 June 2006, nine detainees did not take their evening meal that day and that there were five detainees who had refused to take the meals provided for three days or more. All were taking fluids.

Colnbrook Detention Centre

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on conditions at Colnbrook detention centre.

Liam Byrne: It is Government policy that all detainees must be treated with dignity and respect. The operation of all removal centres is governed by the detention centre rules 2001 which are reinforced by operating standards. The Immigration Service and its contractors are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all detainees. Detention is essential to effective immigration control and must be undertaken with humanity and dignity. Oversight of conditions in all removal centres is provided through independent monitoring boards. An IMB is appointed to all removal centres and members report regularly to me on the state of the premises, the administration of the centre and the treatment of detainees. Centres are also inspected by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons and the comprehensive reports produced are used to produce auditable action plans to achieve improvements.
	Similar action is also undertaken in response to investigation reports into any deaths that may occur in centres which are undertaken by the prisons and probation ombudsman.

Convention on Human Trafficking

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK will ratify the convention on human trafficking; what work remains to be done prior to ratification; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The UK is currently considering whether to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Human Trafficking. In July last year a questionnaire was issued seeking information about the methods of support in place in other European Union countries. The responses to that questionnaire are now being analysed for evidence on how the automatic granting of reflection periods and residence permits to those presenting as victims of trafficking are operating in other European transit or destination countries where they have been introduced. A case-by-case approach, as operated in the United Kingdom, does not appear to be less effective at offering targeted support than these new approaches. The Government are examining how the convention's approach could best be harmonised with effective immigration controls. They are also considering responses to the recent consultation paper on a proposed UK action plan on trafficking in humans. We intend to publish this action plan in the autumn.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to answer the letter of 11 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Sir Gerald Kaufman) with regard to Mr. Abdul Halim.

Liam Byrne: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 27 June 2006.

Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will reply to the letter of 29 March 2006 from the right hon. Member for Warley regarding Mohammed Uddin of Dorlton Drive, Smethwick.

Liam Byrne: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to my right hon. Friend on 28 June 2006.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister for Immigration will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, dated 30 March 2006 on behalf of Mrs. Fadumo Mohd Sharif-Said, Home Office reference S1175012, acknowledged on 5 May 2006, reference B8779/6.

Liam Byrne: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to my right hon. Friend on 29 June 2006.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the immigration and nationality directorate will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood of 29 March on behalf of Halrick Thompson (Home Office reference T1077292, acknowledgement reference B8645/6).

Liam Byrne: The immigration and nationality directorate wrote to my right hon. Friend on 30 June 2006.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 2 May, about Government consultation on new laws to promote gay rights.

Tony McNulty: The letter dated 28 April was received on 3 May and transferred to the Department for Trade and Industry on 4 May. The subject matter subsequently became the responsibility of the Department for Community and Local Government. It has advised that a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (Sir Michael Spicer) shortly.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the letter of 15 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Gordon Okome.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 3 July 2006.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 26 April (Your Ref: M10324/6), on the sexual orientation regulations.

Vernon Coaker: The Department for Communities and Local Government is leading on issues relating to the Sexual Orientation Regulations. The Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Meg Munn) replied to the correspondence on 29 June.

Credit Unions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will provide information and membership forms for credit unions to its employees.

Liam Byrne: The Government welcome the contribution made by the various savings institutions in providing for greater choice and diversity in the financial services sector. The Government's guiding principles are to ensure impartiality and to help create a level playing field for all providers of financial services in order that their specific attributes can be properly harnessed.

Crime Statistics

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) males and  (b) females (i) were found guilty of and (ii) pleaded guilty to complicity in or assisting  (A) a suicide and  (B) infanticide in (1) Tamworth and (2) the west midlands in the last period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform shows that there were no convictions for aiding and abetting suicide in the West Midlands in 2004. Offences of complicity in or assisting infanticide cannot be separated from the offence of infanticide itself in the data held. However the records show that there were no convictions for infanticide in the west midlands in 2004. Had there been conviction data for the west midlands, we would be unable to provide a convictions figure for Tamworth constituency, as the data are not available at the level of detail required.
	Figures for 2005 will be available in the autumn of 2006.

Daniel Dyakov

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will return the passport of Daniel Dyakov, Ref. No. D1054256.

Liam Byrne: Daniel Dyakov's passport was returned by recorded delivery to his representatives, Summer Star solicitors, on 28 June 2006.

Deaths in Prison

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths in prison have resulted from  (a) natural causes,  (b) accident and  (c) self-inflicted injury in each prison in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested with respect to natural causes deaths and other non-natural deaths (which include accidents) in prisons in England and Wales, 2001-05, is shown in the following table. For the information with respect to self-inflicted deaths, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) on 20 March 2006,  Official Report, column 122W.
	
		
			  Prison  Type of death  2001  2002  2001  2004  2005 
			 Acklington Natural Causes 2 2 3 3 4 
			 Albany Natural Causes 3 2 4 2 3 
			 Altcourse Natural Causes 3 1 2  2 
			 Ashwell Natural Causes 1  1  1 
			 Bedford Natural Causes  1
			 Belmarsh Natural Causes 1 2 3 2 1 
			  Other non-natural 1 
			  Unclassified 1 
			 Birmingham Natural Causes 2  1 1 1 
			 Blakenhurst Natural Causes 3 1  1 1 
			 Blundeston Natural Causes  1
			 Bristol Natural Causes5  
			 Brixton Other non-natural1  
			 Brockhill Natural Causes 1 
			 Bronzefield Natural Causes 2 
			 Bullingdon Natural Causes  1 1 2 1 
			 Camp Hill Natural Causes1  
			 Canterbury Natural Causes  1
			 Cardiff Natural Causes1  
			 Castington Other non-natural 1 
			 Channings Wood Natural Causes  1 1   
			 Chelmsford Natural Causes  1  1  
			 Coldingley Natural Causes  1   1 
			 Cookham Wood Natural Causes 1 
			 Dartmoor Natural Causes 1  1  1 
			 Doncaster Natural Causes  2 2 1  
			  Other non-natural1  
			 Dovegate Natural Causes  2 1 1 1 
			 Durham Natural Causes 1  1 3 1 
			 East Sutton Park Natural Causes 1 
			 Eastwood Park Natural Causes  1  3  
			 Edmunds Hill Natural Causes  1
			 Elmley Natural Causes 1 1  2 3 
			  Unclassified 1 
			 Everthorpe Natural Causes 2 
			 Exeter Natural Causes 1  1  1 
			 Ford Natural Causes1  
			 Forest Bank Natural Causes  1
			 Foston Hall Natural Causes1  
			 Frankland Natural Causes 3 4 1 3 4 
			 Full Sutton Natural Causes  1 2 1  
			  Other non-natural1  
			 Garth Natural Causes   1 1  
			 Gartree Natural Causes   1   
			 Gloucester Natural Causes 1 1   1 
			 Grendon Natural Causes  1
			 Guys Marsh Natural Causes   1  1 
			 Haslar Natural Causes1  
			 Haverigg Natural Causes1  
			 Hewell Grange Natural Causes 1 
			 High Down Natural Causes   1  1 
			 Hollesley Bay Natural Causes 1 
			 Holloway Natural Causes   1 1  
			  Other non-natural 1 
			 Holme House Natural Causes 2  1 1 2 
			  Other non-natural1  
			 Hull Natural Causes 2  1 4  
			  Other non-natural1  
			 Kingston Natural Causes 1 2 2 4  
			 Kirkham Natural Causes1 2 
			 Latchmere House Natural Causes  1
			 Leeds Natural Causes  1 1  4 
			 Leicester Natural Causes1  
			 Lewes Natural Causes1 1 
			 Leyhill Natural Causes  2  1 1 
			 Lincoln Natural Causes 1   1  
			  Other non-natural  1
			 Lindholme Natural Causes 1   1  
			 Littlehey Natural Causes  2 3 1 3 
			 Liverpool Natural Causes 1 2 3 1  
			  Other non-natural 1 
			 Low Newton Natural Causes1  
			 Lowdham Grange Natural Causes 1 
			 Maidstone Natural Causes 1 1 2 2  
			 Manchester Natural Causes 1 2 2  2 
			 Mount Natural Causes 1   1  
			 New Hall Natural Causes  1
			 North Sea Camp Natural causes1 1 
			 Norwich Natural Causes  2 2 1 1 
			 Nottingham Natural Causes 1 2 1  1 
			 Parc Natural Causes 1 1 3 2 2 
			  Other non-natural   1   
			 Parkhurst Natural Causes   2 1 3 
			 Pentonville Natural Causes 3 4 1  2 
			 Peterborough Natural Causes 1 
			 Preston Natural Causes 2   2  
			 Ranby Natural Causes2  
			 Risley Natural Causes 4 1 1   
			  Other non-natural 1   2  
			 Rye Hill Natural Causes  1 3 5 4 
			  Other non-natural1  
			 Shepton Mallet Natural Causes2  
			 Stafford Natural Causes   2 1  
			 Standford Hill Natural Causes   1   
			 Stocken Natural Causes  2  1 1 
			 Sudbury Natural Causes 1 
			 Swaleside Natural Causes  2 2 1 4 
			  Other non-natural  1
			 Swansea Natural Causes   2  1 
			 Usk\Prescoed Natural Causes 1  1  1 
			 Verne Natural Causes 1  1   
			 Wakefield Natural Causes 5 1 6 4 3 
			 Wandsworth Natural Causes 3 1 1  2 
			  Other non-natural1  
			 Wayland Natural Causes 1   1  
			 Wealstun Natural Causes   1   
			 Weare Natural Causes1  
			 Whatton Natural Causes2  
			 Whitemoor Natural Causes   2 2  
			 Winchester Natural Causes 2  1 3 1 
			  Other non-natural  1
			 Wolds Natural Causes  1
			 Woodhill Natural Causes 2  3 1 4 
			 Wormwood Scrubs Natural Causes   3  1 
			 Wymott Natural Causes 1 3 2 7 5 
			  Notes: Unclassified deaths are those where further information is awaited. Other non-natural Deaths includes apparent accidents and non-intentional drug overdoses, but not homicides.

Departmental Advertising

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many advertisements have been placed by his Department  (a) in newspapers,  (b) on the radio,  (c) on television,  (d) on billboards and  (e) in other media warning those who do not comply with the law (i) of the possibility of (A) fines, (B) a prison sentence and (ii) that they are putting themselves and others at risk of personal harm in each of the last five years; and what the cost of such advertisements was in this period.

Liam Byrne: To actually count the number of advertisements would not be possible since advertising campaigns are not purchased in terms of number of advertsthey are purchased in terms of what percentage of our target audience we expect to reach, or to a given budget level. However we are able to set out the level of total media expenditure in the following table:
	 Advertisements warning of fines in last five years
	
		
			  Alcohol Misuse enforcement campaign 
			
			 2005-06 93,865 
		
	
	 Advertisements warning that they are putting themselves and/or others at risk of personal harm in last five years
	
		
			
			  Domestic violence  
			 2001-02 0 
			 2002-03 0 
			 2003-04 936,587 
			 2004-05 450,635 
			 2005-06 162,696 
			   
			  Child Protection on the Internet  
			 2001-02 1,281,529 
			 2002-03 763,290 
			 2003-04 825,557 
			 2004-05 299,094 
			 2005-06 (1)879,001 
			 (1) To date 
		
	
	 Advertisements warning of a prison sentence in last five years
	
		
			  Rape 
			
			 2006 346,430

Departmental Staff

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of  (a) staff and  (b) new staff employed in (i) his Department and (ii) each of the agencies for which he has responsibility were registered as disabled in each of the last three years for which data is available.

Liam Byrne: The Cabinet Office collects and publishes annually statistical information on the civil service by Department. These include data on the number of staff in Departments who have declared a disability. Declaration of a disability is voluntary. The latest available information at April 2004 is available in the Library and on the civil service website and the following addresses: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/statistics/publications/xls/disability_apr 04_4nov04.xls for data relating to 1 April 2004, and http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/statistics/archive/index.asp for previous reporting periods.
	 Home Office
	In addition to the above data, the figures shown are available for the Home Office and are set out in the tables. Data has been taken from central HR systems unless otherwise stated.
	 Home Office Agencies
	The UK Passport Service records staff who declare themselves as disabled. The source of its figures is the published employment monitoring reports for the years in question. New entrant disability data are not available for 2002-03 and 2003-04. In 2004-05 fewer than 1 per cent. of new entrants declared a disability
	The numbers of public sector Prison Service staff over the past three years recorded as having a disability, and the total number of recruits to the public sector Prison Service who declared themselves disabled on entry during the past three years, are shown in the tables. There is no longer such a thing as a registered disabled person. Someone is said to have a disability if their condition meets with the definition contained in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. A full re-survey of all staff was carried out in 2004, resulting in the increased numbers declaring themselves disabled after 2003.
	
		
			  Home Office (including Immigration and Nationality Directorate) 
			   1 April 2003  1 April 2004  31 December 2005 
			 Disabled 489 474 489 
			 Total staff 17,965 20,052 (1)21,119 
			 Proportion (percentage) 2.72 2.36 2.31 
		
	
	
		
			   2003( 2)  2004( 2)  2005( 2) 
			 Disabled 27 16 4 
			 Total recruits 3,334 2,786 (1)4,169 
			 Proportion (percentage) 0.8 0.57 (3) 
		
	
	
		
			  Home Office Agencies 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			  UKPA
			 Disabled 200 216 196 
			 Total staff(4) 2,740 2,919 3,266 
			 Proportion (percentage) 7.3 7.4 6 
		
	
	
		
			   31 December: 
			   2003  2004  2005 
			  HM Prison Service
			 Disabled 588 1468 1629 
			 Total staff 47,427 48,633 48,425 
			 Proportion (percentage) 1.2 3.0 3.4 
		
	
	
		
			   2003  2004  2005 
			 Disabled 43 76 55 
			 Total recruits 6,993 6,167 5,528 
			 Proportion (percentage) 0.6 1 .2 1.0 
			 (1) Figures include approximately 1,000 National Offenders Management Service (NOMS) HQ staff, moving into Home Office responsibility.  (2) Because of the transfer of staff records between HR systems data is here given for fiscal years i.e. 2004 = 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.  (3) Not available. Disability data is unrecorded for-95 per cent. of 2005 new entrants, consequently no valid percentage can be derived at present.  (4) Approximate value from published disability value and percentage.

Deportation

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the deportation of British-born children to foreign countries; and what the legal basis is for this policy.

Liam Byrne: British-born children who are not British citizens may be deported under Section 3(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1971 as family members of a person i) whose removal the Secretary of State considers to be conducive to the public good or ii) who has been recommended for deportation by a court. Deportation of family members is carried out in accordance with paragraphs 365-368 of the Immigration Rules (HC395).

Drugs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate how much of the heroin trafficked into the United Kingdom in each year since 1996 came from Afghanistan.

Vernon Coaker: Since 1996 we believe that the vast majority of heroin entering the United Kingdom each year has originated in Afghanistan. In recent years we estimate that it has accounted for more than 90 per cent.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost of  (a) administrating and  (b) buying allocations for each prison included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme was in its first year of operation.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Only the Garth/Wymott prison complex currently comes within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The cost to the prison service during the first year of operation was 8,500 and no carbon certificates were bought.

Foreign Prisoners

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 107 foreign nationals released from prison whose whereabouts are known to the Home Office should have been deported; and how many his Department has identified as living in Oxfordshire.

Liam Byrne: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary updated the House on this matter on 29 June 2006 in a written ministerial statement,  Official Report, column 18WS, and the director general of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote on this date to the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee on the number of cases where foreign national prisoners were released without proper deportation consideration. A copy of the letter has been placed in both Libraries of the House.

Foreign Prisoners

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the foreign nationals recently released from prison and recommended for deportation, broken down by  (a) prison from which they were released,  (b) date of release and  (c) offence; how many have re-offended since release; and in how many cases current whereabouts are unknown.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 May 2006
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary updated the House on this matter on 29 June 2006 in a written ministerial statement,  Official Report, column 18WS, and the director general of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote on this date to the Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee on the number of cases where foreign national prisoners were released without proper deportation consideration. A copy of the letter has been placed in both Libraries.

Foreign Prisoners

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals have escaped from open prisons in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of absconders who were foreign nationals could be obtained only by examination of individual records at a disproportionate cost.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials currently in the Department received honours in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List; and at what rank of honour.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 22 June 2005,  Official Report, column 1059.

IT Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the likely costs of implementing new IT systems arising from the options under consideration from the merger of police forces in the south-west.

Tony McNulty: There is currently careful consideration of a number of options for the way forward for the south-west and each option will have differing implications for IT provision. Each option has been analysed financially in relation to both set-up costs and savings and the forces will be informed of this detail once a decision is made.
	A joint Home Office, Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Association of Police Authorities (APA) and Police Information and Technology Organisation (PITO) working group has been established to work in conjunction with police force project teams to ensure that all ICT requirements, and associated costs, are identified.

Knife Amnesty

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) serious and  (b) fatal attacks were recorded by police during the recent knife amnesty.

Tony McNulty: Recorded crime figures for April to June 2006 are due to be published in October.

Knife Amnesty

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knives have been handed in during the amnesty in  (a) East Yorkshire constituency and  (b) the east riding of Yorkshire area.

Vernon Coaker: Figures for the number of items handed in during the knife amnesty are being collected at police force level and will be released shortly. 17,715 items were handed in in England and Wales during the first week of the amnesty. We worked closely with ACPO to develop the arrangements for the amnesty, which was part of our wider strategy to tackle knife crime. We are also focusing on legislation, enforcement, education and prevention. We have brought forward provisions in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill that will raise the age at which someone can be sold a knife to 18; are introducing a new offence of using someone to mind a weapon; and giving head teachers powers to search pupils for knives. The Home Secretary announced on 19 June that he was giving very serious consideration to the suggestion that the maximum sentence for having a knife or blade in a public place should be increased from the current sentence of two years. Many police forces are undertaking tough enforcement operations, for example, the Metropolitan police's Operation Blunt and the British Transport police's Operation Shield, which uses search equipment to detect those carrying knives and other weapons on our transport network. We are also supporting educational initiatives that demonstrate to young people the dangers of carrying knives, and reinforce the message that carrying a knife can result in it being turned on you. Through our small grants programme, the connected fund, we are also supporting a wide range of local community projects which work with young people to provide mentoring, training, education and other support.

Labour Party Conference

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Greater Manchester police will be responsible for the interviewing of delegates, hotel staff and other associated workers in advance of the Labour party conference in Manchester.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 10 July 2006
	This is an operational matter for Greater Manchester police. I understand they are working with Labour party officials in the accreditation of delegates, hotel staff and other associated workers as part of their work to ensure the safety of those attending the event and the citizens of Manchester.

Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which private Members' Bills were drafted by his Department in each Session since 1997; and which subsequently received Royal Assent.

Tony McNulty: Members will consider a range of possible subjects before introducing their private Members' Bills.
	Government draftsmen do draft some Bills in advance which are available as one of the options for Members to consider before they make their selection.
	However, Members may make subsequent amendments or revisions to a Government drafted Bill, or use it as the basis for a private Members' Bill in the future.
	The information requested is therefore not collected.

Miscarriages of Justice (Compensation)

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his written statement of 19 April 2006,  Official Report, columns 14-17, on miscarriages of justice (compensation), how much will be saved by the reforms to  (a) the statutory and  (b) the discretionary compensation scheme for victims of miscarriages of justice.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It is estimated that in a full year savings of approximately 3 million could result from the changes that had immediate effect on 19 April (the abolition of the discretionary scheme, the assessor taking greater account of applicants' other convictions or any contributory conduct, and the payment of legal costs at legal aid rates). Full-year savings will take some time to accrue because of the number of cases that were already in the system prior to 19 April. Legislation to cap the maximum amount payable to 500,000; to enable the assessor to make deductions from both the non-pecuniary and pecuniary awards; and to reduce awards to nil in exceptional cases could yield further savings of some 2 million per year. It should be noted that the changes to the compensation schemes were not driven by a desire to make savings, rather to ensure that compensation following a miscarriage of justice is more proportionate to the level of injustice, to achieve a better balance with the treatment of victims of crime, and to make the system simpler and fairer, ensuring that applications are settled much more quickly than in the past.

Miscarriages of Justice (Compensation)

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many compensation claims for miscarriage of justice have been accepted under the discretionary scheme as a result of  (a) serious default on the part of the police or another public authority,  (b) complete exoneration,  (c) judicial error and  (d) other exceptional circumstances.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the five-year period from 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2006, a total of 53 applications for compensation for miscarriages of justice were approved under the discretionary scheme. Of these, 40 were approved on the basis of serious default by a public authority, five on the basis of complete exoneration, four on the basis of judicial error, and four on the basis of other exceptional circumstances.

Offenders

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research the Department has undertaken on rehabilitation rates of offenders.

Gerry Sutcliffe: A number of interventions are made in custody and the community to support the rehabilitation of offenders. These include offending behaviour programmes, drug treatment, unpaid work and education and employment. There is robust evidence, originating mainly from north America, to support the effectiveness of offending behaviour programmes in reducing re-offending; the UK research is more limited and mixed. The evaluations to date of drug treatment programmes also suggest that these programmes can reduce re-offending. There is some evidence of employment schemes helping to secure employment for ex-prisoners and of basic skills training improving prisoners' skills. However, evidence on the extent to which improvements in these skills can lead to reductions in re-offending is still limited (Harper  Chitty, 2005). The current Home Office research programme includes further research on the effectiveness of a wide range of interventions aimed at reducing re-offending.

Offenders

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of offenders serving custodial sentences who re-offend within  (a) one,  (b) two and  (c) three years of serving their sentence.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The most recent information on the re-offending of adults in England and Wales was published in December as Adult re-offending: results from the 2002 cohort. Home Office Statistical Bulletin 25/05. The report is available on line at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb2505.pdf and covers offenders starting community sentences or being discharged from prison in the first quarter of 2002. Table A5 provides information which can be used to calculate the number of offenders who re-offended within two years. Re-offending rates have not been calculated on a one and three-year basis for offenders released from prison.

Offenders

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what guidance he has issued to the probation service in the last 12 months on whether offenders on licence should be granted permission to travel abroad;
	(2)  what changes have been made in the last 12 months to regulations governing whether offenders under the supervision of the probation service may travel abroad; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Probation circular 4/2006 sets out the revised policy in respect of determinate sentence prisoners who request permission to temporary travel abroad. A copy of the circular is available in the Library of the House. The circular requires the probation service to consider all applications to travel on their individual merits, and stipulates that such requests should not be granted if there are any concerns on grounds of risk. Permission should be granted only in the most exceptional circumstances and where the prisoner has demonstrated that the need to travel is so pressing that it must be given priority over the statutory aims of supervision.

Official Residences

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to sell or rent the empty official residence at Belgravia House; and what the estimated  (a) capital and  (b) rental value is.

Liam Byrne: The future use of the residence is under consideration. The property was routinely re-valued on 1 April 2006 at 2.4 million. A full rental valuation has not been prepared.

Operation Pentameter

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many under 18-year-olds have been identified in recent raids by Operation Pentameter; and how many of these have been subsequently referred to the Poppy Project.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 21 June 2006
	Operation Pentameter rescued 12 minors aged between 14 and 17. None of these minors was referred to the Poppy Project as victims have to be over 18 to meet the criteria for the project. Three of the minors have been repatriated and the remaining nine are in the care of social services.

Opiate Products

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2006,  Official Report, column 815W, on opiate products, what assessment he has made of whether the Republic of Ireland's interpretation of the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics of 1961 would permit the importation of oxycodone hydrochloride raw material from  (a) the United States and  (b) the European Union.

Vernon Coaker: None.

Opiate Products

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2006,  Official Report, column 815W, on opiate products, what assessment he has made of the restrictiveness of the interpretation of the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics of 1961 within  (a) the Republic of Ireland and  (b) the UK.

Vernon Coaker: None in relation to the Republic of Ireland. For the UK the only assessment of the restriction of importation has been made in respect of codeine where importation has been restricted to 10 per cent. of the estimate of domestic consumption.

Parliamentary Papers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to make copies of deposited papers available in  (a) the Vote Office and  (b) Printed Paper Office at the same time as copies are deposited in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Departments regularly deposit papers in the Libraries of the House for the reference of Members and Peers. It is for Departments to assess the level of interest in a deposited paper and in cases where there is likely to be wider interest to provide sufficient copies of the document to the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office accordingly.
	Departments are always happy to provide copies of deposited papers to Member and Peers on request.

Parliamentary Questions

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer questions  (a) 62603,  (b) 62604,  (c) 62605 and  (d) 62606, on the occupants of registered aircraft landing at airports in the UK, tabled on 27 March by the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 15 June 2006
	I replied to the hon. member on 5 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1061W.

Parole

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for parole have been heard in each of the last five years; and how many of these applications were successful in each year.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following table gives the total number of releases of determinate sentence prisoners on parole, broken down by fiscal year, for each of the last five years, as set out in the annual report and accounts of the Parole Board for England and Wales 2004-05.
	
		
			   Cases considered  Number granted( 1)  As percentage of cases considered( 1) 
			 2000-01 5,576 2,584 46.3 
			 2001-02 5,514 2,791 50.6 
			 2002-03 6,012 3,175 52.8 
			 2003-04 6,038 3,206 53.1 
			 2004-05 7,297 3,794 52 
			 (1) Excludes cases where the Parole Board's recommendation of parole was not accepted by the Home Secretary (as the Home Secretary is the arbiter of parole applications in respect of determinate sentence prisoners serving a sentence of 15 years or more) and those where the decision to allow parole was suspended before release

Police

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average response time is of police to emergency call-outs in  (a) England and Wales and  (b) Taunton constituency.

Tony McNulty: Data on the time taken to respond to emergency call-outs is not collected centrally.

Police

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of creating a West Midlands regional police force.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 10 May 2006
	The gross costs of merger are currently calculated at 57 million. There would be net set-up costs, after projected savings, in the first two years of restructuring. During the first five years of operation of the new force a net saving of 72 million is projected. The Government are committed to paying 100 per cent. of reasonable set-up revenue and capital costs of restructuring, net of reasonable savings.

Police

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding will be made available to support the merger of police forces in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The estimated set-up cost of a strategic police force for Wales is 35 million. We are committed to paying 100 per cent. of reasonable set-up revenue and capital costs, net of reasonable savings. The precise projected level of these costs and savings is a matter for negotiations currently taking place.
	Long-term savings made possible by the merger are currently estimated at around 16 million a year.

Police

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why  (a) levels and  (b) the impact of tourism was taken out of the police funding formula; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Following the review, a new funding formula for allocating police general grant was introduced in 2006-07.
	During the review, we concluded that the tourism indicator used in the previous formula was out of date. Alternative and more up-to-date indicators of tourism were considered, but we were not satisfied that these were reliable and therefore did not include them in the new formula.
	Representatives from ACPO and the APA and the wider policing community were involved in the review. A full consultation on options for change took place last summer. All representations were fully taken into account.
	Dorset benefited overall from the revised formula changes and their position was further protected by application of a virtually flat rate grant increase for all police authorities for 2006-07.

Police

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the net expenditure was on police per head of the population in  (a) Devon,  (b) Cornwall and  (c) England in each year since 1999.

Tony McNulty: The information is set out in the following table. Devon and Cornwall is a combined police authority and data on policing costs for the two counties separately are not available
	
		
			   Devon and Cornwall  England 
			   Net expenditure( 1)  ()  Resident population  Expenditure per head of population ()  Net expenditure( 1)  ()  Resident population  Expenditure per head of population () 
			 1999-2000 175,055,000 1,551,480 112.83 7,074,920,000 49,279,007 143.57 
			 2000-01 182,367,000 1,558,758 117.00 7,372,617,000 49,489,372 148.97 
			 2001-02 191,117,000 1,569,666 121.76 7,852,807,000 49,746,857 157.86 
			 2002-03 198,375,000 1,586,655 125.03 8,153,101,000 49,990,718 163.09 
			 2003-04 220,160,000 1,578,595 139.47 8,910,451,000 49,174,123 181.20 
			 2004-05 233,170,000 1,590,699 146.58 9,408,454,000 49,553,944 189.86 
			 2005-06 243,711,000 1,601,215 152.20 9,631,146,000 49,847,697 193.21 
			 ( 1 ) Source for net expenditure: The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Police Statistics (Estimates for 2005-06)

Police

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 16 May 2006,  Official Report, column 903W, on police, if he will collect data centrally on the numbers of  (a) police officers and  (b) other employees who have taken early retirement in each police force in England and Wales in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: We do not currently collect data centrally on the number of early retirements amongst police staff and there are no comparable figures to collect in respect of police officers. In view of the operational requirements of policing officers may retire under the police pension scheme of 1987, which applies to those who joined the service before 6 April 2006, with an immediate ordinary pension after 30 years' service or from age 50 if they have at least 25 years' service. The only means by which officers can retire earlier than that with a pension is on the grounds of ill-health. The rate of ill-health retirements among police officers has fallen from 14 per 1,000 officers in service in 1997-98 to three per 1,000 in 2004-05. We will consider the case for widening the scope of the data we collect from forces in the way suggested by the hon. Member.

Police

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the net change in the number of police force posts following the creation of a single strategic force for Wales.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 4 July 2006
	The business case for amalgamation of the four Welsh police forces, which was sent to the forces and police authorities concerned on 3 March, assumed no change in the total number of police officers in Wales .

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of police officers in each police authority area come from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is available in the Police Service Strength publication as at 31 March 2005. This report was published on 25 July 2005 and is available in the Library of the House and on:http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb0106.pdf.

Police

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former police officers are in receipt of injury pensions.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally.

Police

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers  (a) were recruited and  (b) left the service in Yeovil constituency in (i) 2004-05 and (ii) 2005-06.

Tony McNulty: Police personnel data are collected on a financial year basis by police force area. The latest information available is for 2004-05.
	In 2004-05 Avon and Somerset police force recruited 139 full-time equivalent (FTE) police community support officers (PCSOs), and no PCSOs were recorded as leaving the force during this period.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints about police conduct and behaviour have been  (a) submitted and  (b) upheld in each police force in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The data requested is not held centrally.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police pursuits of motorbike thieves have resulted in injury to the operator of the motorbike in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: The data requested is not held centrally.

Police

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the mechanism will be for the equalisation of council tax precepts across Wales following the proposed merger of the four Welsh police forces.

Tony McNulty: The new strategic police authority will be the precepting authority for the strategic police force. No final decisions have yet been taken on transitional arrangements to allow for convergence of precepts over several years.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in each police force have been  (a) disciplined and  (b) dismissed for racism in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Police

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) resignations and  (b) retirements of police officers from the Suffolk constabulary there have been in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The available information is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent( 1)  police officer resignations and retirements in Suffolk, 1997-2005 
			  As at 31 March each year  Voluntary resignations( 2)  Retirements( 3) 
			 1997 5 56 
			 1998 10 51 
			 1999 8 44 
			 2000 11 37 
			 2001 12 52 
			 2002 19 36 
			 2003 14 32 
			 2004 28 35 
			 2005 26 27 
			 (1) Prior to 2003, FTE figures excluded those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.  (2) Voluntary resignations does not include those who are dismissed and required to resign.  (3) Retirements includes normal retirements and medical retirements.

Pornography

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made on preventing children from gaining access to hardcore pornography.

Vernon Coaker: Strong controls already exist to protect children from hardcore pornography in the UK. I refer my hon. Friend to the answers that my hon. Friend the Member for Wythenshawe and Sale, East (Paul Goggins), then Under-Secretary of State at the Home Department, gave on 23 March 2006,  Official Report, column 607W, and 28 March 2006,  Official Report, column 909W, and the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 27 March 2006,  Official Report, column 651W. In addition, DCMS Ministers have agreed a code of practice with the British Hospitality Association to prevent children under the age of 18 from exposure to video works classified at 18/R18 provided through pay to view systems in hotels.

Port Security

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which UK ports have 24-hour security; and what plans the Government have to introduce 24-hour security at further ports.

Liam Byrne: There are currently 19 ports in the UK and in juxtaposed locations which are staffed 24 hours a day. A further 16 have staff based there during operating hours. Other ports are covered on a regular basis to cover scheduled services with all remaining points of entry attended on a risk assessed basis or in response to specific intelligence.

Post Office Services

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for which services  (a) his Department and  (b) its associated public bodies hold contracts with the Post Office; and what the (i) start and (ii) termination date is of each contract.

Liam Byrne: Two services are made available by Post Office Ltd. on behalf of the Department. The cash payment facility for asylum seekers is provided by National Asylum Support Services (NASS) through the Sodexho Pass contract which subcontracts to the Post Office the distribution of cash to asylum seekers. The contract commenced on 7 January 2000, and has been extended in accordance with the contract, it expires on 31 December 2006. A new cash payment contract however is due to be let in July 2006 with a view to going live no later than 31 December 2006. Post Office Ltd. provides a passport application Check and Send service and holds passport applications packs at post office branches on behalf of the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). This service has operated since 1996. The current agreement for the Check  Send service runs until 30 September 2007. Before the expiry of the current agreement IPS expect to run a procurement exercise for a continuation of this provision.

Post Office Services

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what services  (a) his Department and  (b) its associated public bodies (i) make available and (ii) have made available in the last five years through the Post Office network; through how many outlets the service is or was made available; and how many relevant transactions were undertaken in each case in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: Two services are made available by Post Office Ltd. on behalf of the Department. The cash payment facility for asylum seekers is provided by National Asylum Support Services (NASS) through the Sodexho Pass contract which subcontracts to the Post Office, the distribution of cash to asylum seekers, using a total of 530 outlets throughout the UK (although only about 420 outlets are currently used). The contract commenced on 7 January 2000 and has been extended in accordance with the contract. It expires on 31 December 2006. A new cash payment contract however is due to be let in July 2006 with a view to going live no later than 31 December 2006. Post Office Ltd. provides a passport application Check and Send service and hold passport applications packs at 2,513 branches on behalf of the Identity and Passport Service. This service has operated since 1996 and from June 2005 to May 2006 POL processed 2,721,334 passport applications through this service.

Prisoner Information Points

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the  (a) deployment,  (b) availability and  (c) use of prisoner information points; which prison establishments have such facilities; what plans he has to extend availability in each prison; how much has been spent in each prison establishment on prisoner information points; and what mechanisms are in place to ensure public protection through these facilities.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In 2004, British Telecommunications plc was awarded a contract to construct and install prisoner information points. HM Prison Service has assisted BT in developing the product, but has no obligation to purchase any terminals. It is therefore left to individual establishments to decide whether they wish to purchase the PIPs. The eastern region of the Legal Services Commission has purchased 14 terminals to serve prisons in the east midlands area, as part of their resettlement agenda. In exchange, HMPS has provided facilities for LSC to present local information on the PIPs in these prisons, which are based on the seven resettlement pathways. Currently there are orders for a total of 22 PIPs based in 17 establishments. The information on the terminals is based on the 21 Prison Service Standards which directly affect prisoners' day- to-day life. The terminals are a stand-alone system and do not permit prisoner access to the internet.

Prisoners

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) of 7 November 2005,  Official Report, column 57W, on prisoners, how many crimes were committed by people released from prison before the end of their sentence in 2005-06.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on the number of prisoners released on parole licence who were recalled to prison in 2005-06 because of being charged with a further offence will be published in the Parole Board annual report for 2005-06 available towards the end of 2006. In the year 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006, around 16,600 prisoners were released on home detention curfew, according to the prison IT system. By the end of May 2006 the Home Office had been notified of 965 offences, reported as committed during the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006, for which a prisoner on HDC had been cautioned, convicted or was awaiting prosecution (which may not result in a conviction). This figure will change in future as further reports are received of acquittals, charges dropped, further offences identified, or convictions.

Prisoners

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the breakdown of the prison population was in terms of  (a) ethnic background,  (b) religion,  (c) age and  (d) sex in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on the breakdowns requested of the prison population is to be found in tables 8.4, 8.4a, 8.5, and 8.6 in the Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2004, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library. The internet tables for Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2004 are available at the following internet address:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/omcs.html.

Prisons

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what spending on the prison service is  (a) identifiable and  (b) non-identifiable for the purposes of the public expenditure statistical analysis.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The departmental expenditure limit for HM Prison Service during 2004-05 was 2,446,412,000 of which: 167,791,000 is regarded as identifiable expenditure and 2,278,621,000 is regarded as non-identifiable expenditure.

Prisons

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of the total prison population released in each year since 1990 completed  (a) 100 per cent.,  (b) 90 to 99 per cent.,  (c) 80 to 89 per cent.,  (d) 70 to 79 per cent.,  (e) 60 to 69 per cent.,  (f) 50 to 59 per cent. and  (g) less than 50 per cent. of their total prison sentence.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on average time served for prisoners discharged under sentence is published in tables 10.1 and 10.2 of Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2004, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. Comprehensive information on time served for the different bands specified could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates have had added days awarded to them by the independent adjudicator and subsequently also had days restored to them by prison governors in each prison in each of the last 12 months; how many days were (i) awarded by the independent adjudicator and (ii) restored by the governor in each case; what the reasons were for the restoration in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The numbers of added days imposed or remitted in each prison will vary according to the size of the establishment and the nature of the population. Detailed information is not collated centrally. The reasons for restoration of added days in individual cases are not recorded centrally, but in each case the governor (or controller in contracted prisons) considers applications for remission according to criteria set out in Prison Service guidance.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many independent adjudications were carried out in each prison establishment in each of the last 15 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: A monthly breakdown of independent adjudications is not available but according to returns from prisons. Independent adjudicators only attend to hear the more serious disciplinary charges for which added days are a likely punishment.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of independent adjudications was in each prison establishment for each of the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The cost of each visit by an independent adjudicator (district judge) to an establishment is estimated at 700, including an estimated average for expenses of 100 per visit.
	A monthly breakdown of independent adjudicators' visits to each prison is not available.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civilian staff are employed at HM Prison Wandsworth.

Gerry Sutcliffe: As at 15 June 2006, Wandsworth prison employed 191 civilian staff out of a total of 735 staff.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Irish nationals are being held in each prison establishment.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on the numbers of Irish national prisoners held in prison establishments within England and Wales, as recorded on the prison IT system, is contained within the following table;
	
		
			  Irish national prisoners by prison establishment in England and Wales 30 April 2006 
			   Number 
			 Altcourse 11 
			 Askham Grange 1 
			 Acklington 1 
			 Albany 11 
			 Ashfield 1 
			 Ashwell 4 
			 Aylesbury 3 
			 Belmarsh 17 
			 Buckley Hall 3 
			 Blundeston 6 
			 Bedford 5 
			 Blantyre House 0 
			 Brockhill 0 
			 Bristol 5 
			 Birmingham 12 
			 Bullingdon 9 
			 Brinsford 1 
			 Blakenhurst 4 
			 Bullwood Hall 0 
			 Brixton 18 
			 Bronzfield 7 
			 Chelmsford 9 
			 Cardiff 5 
			 Camp Hill 2 
			 Cookham Wood 3 
			 Coldingly 2 
			 Castington 0 
			 Channings Wood 5 
			 Canterbury 3 
			 Dartmoor 4 
			 Dovegate 8 
			 Drake Hall 0 
			 Durham 1 
			 Doncaster 1 
			 Dorchester 1 
			 Deerbolt 0 
			 Dover 0 
			 Downview 4 
			 Erlestoke 4 
			 Standford Hill 3 
			 East Sutton Park 1 
			 Everthorpe 1 
			 Eastwood Park 1 
			 Exeter 3 
			 Elmley 11 
			 Forest Bank 12 
			 Ford 7 
			 Foston Hall 1 
			 Frankland 6 
			 Feltham 10 
			 Full Sutton 9 
			 Featherstone 8 
			 Garth 5 
			 Gloucester 0 
			 Guys Marsh 8 
			 Grendon (Spring Hill) 10 
			 Glen Parva 2 
			 Gartree 5 
			 Hollesley Bay (Warren Hill) 2 
			 Huntercombe 2 
			 Moorland Open 0 
			 Hewell Grange 1 
			 Holme House 2 
			 Hindley 2 
			 Hull 3 
			 Highdown 10 
			 Highpoint South 12 
			 Haslar 0 
			 Haverigg 0 
			 Holloway 10 
			 Kirkham 1 
			 Kirklevington 0 
			 Lancaster 1 
			 Leicester 3 
			 Leeds 7 
			 Lancaster Farms 1 
			 Lowdham Grange 9 
			 Lindholme 4 
			 Lincoln 0 
			 Long Lartin 5 
			 Latchmere House 3 
			 Low Newton 0 
			 Liverpool 6 
			 Littlehey 8 
			 Lewes 5 
			 Leyhill 4 
			 Moorland 1 
			 Morton Hall 0 
			 Manchester 13 
			 Maidstone 7 
			 Mount 15 
			 Highpoint North 9 
			 New Hall 3 
			 Nottingham 2 
			 Northallerton 0 
			 North Sea Camp 4 
			 Norwich 2 
			 Onley 6 
			 Peterborough 5 
			 Portland 7 
			 Parkhurst 6 
			 Preston 3 
			 Pare 10 
			 Kingston (Portsmouth) 5 
			 Pentonville 29 
			 Rochester 2 
			 Reading 1 
			 Rye Hill 6 
			 Ranby 11 
			 Risley 4 
			 Send 3 
			 Stafford 9 
			 Stoke Heath 3 
			 Stocken 6 
			 Swaleside 6 
			 Shepton Mallet 1 
			 Swinfen Hall 0 
			 Styal 2 
			 Sudbury 4 
			 Swansea 6 
			 Shrewsbury 2 
			 Thorn Cross 0 
			 Usk (Prescoed) 2 
			 Verne 2 
			 Wellingborough 3 
			 Winchester 6 
			 Wakefield 9 
			 Wealstun 2 
			 Woodhill 13 
			 Warren Hill 1 
			 Wayland 7 
			 Wymott 6 
			 Werrington 0 
			 Wolds 0 
			 Whitemoor 5 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 35 
			 Whatton 5 
			 Wandsworth 24 
			 Wetherby 1 
			 Total 693

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) psychologists and  (b) psychology assistants are employed (i) at each prison establishment and (ii) at Prison Service headquarters.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on the number of psychologists and psychology assistants employed at each prison establishment, public sector Prison Service headquarters and National Offender Management Service can be found in the following table. Information for contracted prisons does not include psychological assistants.
	
		
			  Public sector prison establishments 
			   Full-time equivalent staff in post 31 May 2006 
			  Prison name  Psychologist  Psychological Assistant 
			 Acklington 4.5 1.0 
			 Albany 9.0 15.0 
			 Ashwell 5.0 2.0 
			 Askham Grange   
			 Aylesbury 10.8 3.0 
			 Bedford   
			 Belmarsh   
			 Birmingham 2.0 2.0 
			 Blakenhurst  5.0 
			 Blantyre House   
			 Blundeston 4.0 4.0 
			 Brinsford 2.0 5.0 
			 Bristol 4.8 4.0 
			 Brixton 2.0 3.0 
			 Brockhill   
			 Buckley Hall 1.0 2.0 
			 Bullingdon 6.0 2.0 
			 Bullwood Hall 3.4 6.0 
			 Camp Hill   
			 Canterbury   
			 Cardiff 9.0 6.0 
			 Castington 5.0 7.0 
			 Channings Wood 9.0 9.0 
			 Chelmsford 1.7 2.0 
			 Coldingley   
			 Cookham Wood   
			 Dartmoor 4.0 5.0 
			 Deerbolt 4.5 3.0 
			 Dorchester   
			 Dover   
			 Downview   
			 Drake Hall 3.0 1.0 
			 Durham 3.0 3.0 
			 East Sutton Park   
			 Eastwood Park 1.0 1.0 
			 Edmunds Hill   
			 Elmley   
			 Erlestoke 3.0 4.0 
			 Everthorpe 1.0 1.0 
			 Exeter  4.0 
			 Featherstone 1.6 3.0 
			 Feltham   
			 Ford   
			 Foston Hall 1.0 1.0 
			 Frankland 32.7 6.0 
			 Full Sutton 18.7 2.0 
			 Garth 5.0 3.0 
			 Gartree 20.9 5.0 
			 Glen Parva 7.0 4.5 
			 Gloucester   
			 Grendon 13.6 1.0 
			 Guys Marsh  2.0 
			 Haslar   
			 Haverigg   
			 Hewell Grange   
			 High Down   
			 Highpoint 2.5 5.0 
			 Hindley   
			 Hollesley Bay 2.0  
			 Holloway 8.8 4.7 
			 Holme House 2.6 0.3 
			 Hull 12.0 11.0 
			 Huntercombe  4.0 
			 Kingston 3.6 1.0 
			 Kirkham 2.0 1.0 
			 Kirklevington Grange   
			 Lancaster   
			 Lancaster Farms 4.8 1.0 
			 Latchmere House   
			 Leeds 4.0 3.0 
			 Leicester   
			 Lewes   
			 Leyhill 8.6 4.0 
			 Lincoln 1.0 1.0 
			 Lindholme 7.0 7.5 
			 Littlehey 8.0 6.0 
			 Liverpool 5.7 3.0 
			 Long Lartin 10.0 5.0 
			 Low Newton 5.0 4.0 
			 Maidstone   
			 Manchester 5.4 3.0 
			 Moorland 6.0 4.0 
			 Morton Hall 1.4  
			 New Hall 6.0 2.0 
			 North Sea Camp 1.0  
			 Northallerton 1.0 2.0 
			 Norwich 4.0 3.0 
			 Nottingham 1.0 1.0 
			 Onley 3.0 4.0 
			 Parkhurst 2.8  
			 Pentonville 3.0 8.5 
			 Portland 3.0 6.0 
			 Preston   
			 Ranby 2.0 3.0 
			 Reading 2.0  
			 Risley 10.3 9.3 
			 Rochester   
			 Send 1.8 1.0 
			 Shepton Mallet 4.8 1.0 
			 Shrewsbury   
			 Stafford 11.5 10.0 
			 Standford Hill   
			 Stocken 1.0 4.0 
			 Stoke Heath 1.0 7.0 
			 Styal 3.0 2.0 
			 Sudbury 2.0 2.0 
			 Swaleside   
			 Swansea  1.0 
			 Swinfen Hall 15.7 17.6 
			 The Mount 2.7 3.5 
			 The Verne 1.0 4.0 
			 Thorn Cross 3.0 2.0 
			 Usk/Prescoed 8.0 4.0 
			 Wakefield 18.7 3.0 
			 Wandsworth 12.4 1.0 
			 Warren Hill 1.0 3.0 
			 Wayland 7.0 4.0 
			 Wealstun 5.5  
			 Weare   
			 Wellingborough 4.0 2.0 
			 Werrington   
			 Wetherby 3.0 2.0 
			 Whatton 17.3 8.0 
			 Whitemoor 13.0 4.0 
			 Winchester   
			 Woodhill 4.0 5.0 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 3.0 4.0 
			 Wymott 7.0 4.2 
			 Prison Service HQ 76.1 33.0 
			 National Offender Management Service HQ 3.0  
			 Total 569.5 367.1 
		
	
	
		
			  Contracted prisons 
			  Prison name  Psychologist 
			 Altcourse 2 
			 Ashfield 4 
			 Bronzefield  
			 Doncaster 3 
			 Dovegate Main 7 
			 Dovegate Therapeutic 4 
			 Forest Bank  
			 Lowdham Grange 1 
			 Parc  
			 Peterborough  
			 Rye Hill 4 
			 Wolds (1) 
			 Total 21.0 
			 (1 )No permanent staff, sessional staff as required

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what mechanisms exist to monitor inmates' cars parked at prison establishments to ensure that the vehicles are  (a) legally registered as owned by the inmate claiming ownership and  (b) displaying valid tax discs; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what proportion of inmates at HM Prison Latchmere House are currently allowed to park their cars in the establishment's car park; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There are no mandatory instructions on how to monitor cars belonging to prisoners. Each establishment requires prisoners to comply with the law. For example, at Latchmere House, vehicle registration documents must be in the prisoner's own name and have the address as Latchmere House. Documents are kept in prisoners' valuables and an application must be made, with a reason, for any withdrawals. The tax disc is photocopied and a renewal date entered on the car document log which is checked monthly by the Job Club to ensure tax is still current. Thirty prisoners, as at 16 June 2006, use the establishment's car park, out of a population of 169.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons have been re-roled since 1997; how many prison places there are in each establishment; when the re-roling took place; and what the cost of re-roling was.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 22 June 2006
	The following table provides details of prisons that have changed function since 1997, including number of places at the time of the change. It does not include individual wings or prisons that have changed their security category but retained their previous function. Information on change of function costs is not available as accounting records do not identify these separately from other operating costs.
	
		
			  Prison  Year  Changed from  Changed to  Number of places 
			 Foston Hall 1997 Male Prison Female Prison 150 
			 Send 1998 Male Prison Female Prison 220 
			 Low Newton 1999 Male Prison Female Prison 245 
			 Downview 2001 Male Prison Female Prison 227 
			 Morton Hall 2001 Male Prison Female Prison 192 
			 Haslar 2002 Male Prison Immigration Removal Centre 160 
			 Dover 2002 Male Prison Immigration Removal Centre 205 
			 Buckley Hall 2002 Male Prison Female Prison 390 
			 Wolds 2003 Male Local Prison Male Training Prison 360 
			 Canterbury 2003 Male Local Prison Male Training Prison 304 
			 Edmunds Hill 2004 Female Prison Male Prison 310 
			 Buckley Hall 2005 Female Prison Male Prison 385 
			 Brockhill 2006 Female Prison Male Prison 150 
			 Bullwood Hall 2006 Female Prison Male Prison 184

Prisons

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped from HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire in the last year for which figures are available; what the  (a) offence and  (b) sentence of each absconder was; what the remaining length of sentence was of each absconder; how many have been caught; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 26 June 2006
	Seventy-six prisoners absconded from Sudbury open prison during 2005-06, the latest year for which data are available. Of these 14 remain unlawfully at large. Details of each absconder's offence and sentence could be obtained only by examination of each prisoner's record at a disproportionate cost.

Prisons

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates who absconded from  (a) all open prisons and  (b) Spring Hill open prison since 1999 have not been recaptured; and how many of those who absconded committed further crimes before being apprehended.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 26 June 2006
	Information for all open prisons is available since 1997. As at 24 May 2006, 357 prisoners remained unlawfully at large from those who had absconded from open prisons in England and Wales between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 2006. As at 22 June 2006, 29 prisoners remained unlawfully at large from those who absconded from Springhill open prison between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2006. Information is not held centrally on further offences committed by absconders while unlawfully at large.

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) Prison Service Instructions and  (b) Prison Service Orders were issued without being published in each of the last nine years for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Prison Service Orders and Instructions are available to prisoners through prison libraries, unless their circulation is restricted on security or commercial grounds. Extant non-restricted Orders and Instructions are also published on the Prison Service website except for a few early examples for which no electronic copy exists. Hard copies of these can be obtained on request to Prison Service headquarters.
	The numbers of restricted Instructions and Orders by year of issue are detailed in the table.
	
		
			  The numbers of restricted Prison Service Instructions and Orders by year 
			   Restricted circulation Prison Service Orders issued  Restricted circulation Prison Service Instructions issued 
			 1997 0 0 
			 1998 5 1 
			 1999 2 0 
			 2000 2 1 
			 2001 1 0 
			 2002 2 0 
			 2003 0 0 
			 2004 0 0 
			 2005 1 0 
			 2006 1 2

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many spare places in open prisons were available in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is set out in the table.
	
		
			   Places available 
			 1995 750 
			 1996 283 
			 1997 34 
			 1998 380 
			 1999 761 
			 2000 712 
			 2001 604 
			 2002 236 
			 2003 286 
			 2004 334 
			 2005 360

Prisons

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners under the age of 18 years are in each prison; what plans he has to transfer those individuals to specialist youth institutions; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The number of young people under 18 accommodated in each young offender institution (run by the Prison Service or private contractors) on 28 April (the most recent date for which figures are available) is set out in the following table. On the same date, 243 under-18s were accommodated in secure training centres and 230 in secure children's homes. These figures and those in the table were provided by the Youth Justice Board.
	The Youth Justice Board has responsibility for deciding, on behalf of the Secretary of State, where young people serving detention and training orders are to be accommodated. The board's decisions take account of the age and sex of the young person, his or her individual needs and where he or she normally lives. The Prison Service performs the same function in relation to under-18s sentenced to longer periods of detention. Young offender institutions, secure training centres and secure children's homes are all specialist youth institutions, with staff who are trained in the needs of young people. The higher staff-to-trainee ratios in secure training centres and secure children's homes are more suited to the needs of younger trainees and those who are more vulnerable.
	
		
			  Young people under 18 in young offender institutions as at 28 April 2006 
			   Number 
			  Male establishments  
			 Ashfield 286 
			 Brinsford 187 
			 Castington 134 
			 Feltham 194 
			 Hindley 147 
			 Huntercombe 296 
			 Lancaster Farms 201 
			 Parc 22 
			 Stoke Heath 172 
			 Thorn Cross 20 
			 Warren Hill 186 
			 Werrington 144 
			 Wetherby 289 
			 Woodhill(1) 4 
			 Total males under 18 2,282 
			   
			  Female establishments  
			 Cookhamwood 14 
			 Downview 15 
			 Eastwoodpark (2)15 
			 New Hall 20 
			 Total females under 18 64 
			 Grand total 2,346 
			 (1) Woodhill is a high security establishment holding young people with category A status. Under-18s are held in a dedicated unit and follow the under-18 regime.  (2) One of these young women is in the mother and baby unit and another in the detoxification unit.

Probation Service

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the probation facilities in Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Details of the performance of the 42 probation areas in England and Wales against targets set for the National Probation Service for 2005-06 may be found in the National Probation Service performance report issue 20 which is posted on the NPS website at: http://www.probation.homeoffice. gov.uk/output/page34.asp.
	Issue 20 showed Hertfordshire as the worst performing area in the weighted scorecard, which ranks probation areas according to their performance across the range of key indicators. The greatest areas of concern are with performance in relation to the two key targets on OASys risk assessments on (a) high risk offenders and (b) prolific and other priority offenders (PPOs). Performance on both these targets was 14 per cent. in 2005-06. The target for both high risk and PPOs is 90 per cent.
	Hertfordshire's performance on the enforcement target is the worst of all the probation areas at 80 per cent. The target is 90 per cent. and the aggregate of all areas in England and Wales was 91 per cent. Hertfordshire achieved 77 per cent. on compliance against a target of 85 per cent. and an England and Wales average of 81 per cent. Against a target of 645 completions of unpaid work orders, Hertfordshire achieved 464 (72 per cent.). 49 per cent. of victims were contacted within the timescale required by national standardsthe target is 85 per cent. and nationally the NPS is achieving 93 per cent. The remaining key performance indicators are at or around target with the exception of basic skills awards where double the awards target was achieved in 2005-06.
	HM Inspectorate of Probation, as an independent inspectorate reporting to Ministers on the work of the National Probation Service, published an inspection report on Hertfordshire probation area in March 2004 under its effective supervision inspection programme. This showed poor performance, particularly in the assessment and supervision of offenders who posed a high risk of harm to others, and that the area needed to make significant improvements in its overall operation.
	In view of the results of this inspection, HM Inspectorate of Probation undertook a follow-up inspection of Hertfordshire which was published in January 2005. This indicated considerable signs of improvement, but that further work was needed to improve the quality of effective supervision, and particularly of the management of risk of harm.
	All HMI Probation reports are published, and copies are in the Library of the House.

Probation Service

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions  (a) he and  (b) his officials have met trade union representatives to discuss improvements to the probation service in the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 5 July 2006
	The information is as follows:
	 (a) Junior Home Office Ministers have met frequently with the unions, both formally and informally, over this period and these discussions have included improvements in the service.
	 (b) My officials have met union representatives on a regular basis throughout the last twelve months in a wide range of contexts and improvement to the probation service has been discussed on many occasions.

Probation Service

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people recruited by the Probation Service in the last 12 months have no formal qualifications.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 5 July 2006
	The Home Office does not collect information centrally on what, if any, qualifications are held by staff recruited to the Probation Service, and we cannot therefore provide a response to this question.

Probation Service

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he uses consultants to advise on the work of the Probation Service.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 5 July 2006
	The National Probation Directorate employs from time to time a number of consultants or consultancy firms to provide specialist support over a wide range of probation work.

Seasonal Agricultural Workers

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why his Department is proposing to change the contracts of employment for seasonal agricultural workers scheme students; when these changes were announced; and when they will take effect.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 3 July 2006
	It is the responsibility of the operators to ensure that each student employed on the seasonal agricultural workers scheme (SAWS) has a contract of employment and that it meets the terms and conditions of both the scheme and all appropriate employment legislation. Monitoring activities have found that many students employed on the SAWS are being paid as daily casual workers; a practice which is incompatible with the terms and conditions of the SAWS contract. The contract states that participants are to be offered work for a minimum period of five weeks and a minimum of 40 hours work per week. Officials sent a contract clarification letter to all SAWS operators on 22 June 2006 confirming that SAWS students must not be employed on daily contracts and that employment contracts must be amended accordingly. A working group of Home Office officials and SAWS operator representatives will now address how the operators should be seeking to comply with the requirements and the timescales for doing so.

Security Industry Authority

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) licence applications were received and  (b) licences were issued by the Security Industry Authority in each of the last five months for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Month in 2006  Applications received  Licences issued 
			 May 12,200 6,752 
			 April 13,126 13,034 
			 March 25,632 10,821 
			 February 18,494 8,480 
			 January 14,000 8,354

Security Service

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former  (a) MI5 and  (b) MI6 agents have been imprisoned in the UK in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It is the established policy of successive Governments not to make public information that could assist in the identification of agents of the intelligence and security services.

Sex Offenders

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered sex offenders reside in each London borough.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This data will be made available in local multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) annual reports, which are due to be published in October.

Terrorism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many terrorist cells have been discovered in the United Kingdom since 11 September 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: It is our policy not to comment on the details of specific intelligence operations as these are operational matters for the police and the security service. However, on 11 May 2006, I informed the House that the police and agencies have disrupted many attacks against the UK since 9/11, including three since last July.

Terrorism

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he expects the EU plans to introduce a non-emotive lexicon to help combat terrorism to work in practice; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Under the UK presidency, in the context of the EU's action plan to counter radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism, the Government proposed the development of a non-emotive lexicon. This proposal reflected our recognition, and that of the EU, that certain terms are potentially inflammatory if used inappropriately and there are those who wish to misrepresent Government policies as anti-Muslim or anti-Islam. The Austrian presidency took work on this forward with the development of a short list of key terms and a broader EU communications strategy, which was designed to provide a framework for discussing issues related to Islamist terrorism. The lexicon is a living document which the current presidency may or may not chose to expand, but, as part of the communications strategy, it is a guide to help EU Ministers and officials express themselves clearly and to minimise the chance of their statements and policies being misunderstood or misconstrued.

Victims of Crime

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to prevent a person who has murdered their spouse organising the victim's funeral in their position as next-of-kin.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no specific measures in place to prevent a person who has murdered their spouse organising the victim's funeral.
	Being next-of-kin does not create a right to organise someone's funeral. A duty to dispose of a dead body is incumbent on the executors of the deceased. A court can refuse to issue a grant of representation to someone it considers unsuitable to be an executor or an administrator of the deceased's estate. It is an offence to detain a body and to refuse to deliver it to the executors for burial.
	Under the victim advocate scheme which is being piloted in five Crown courts, families of the victims of murder or manslaughter will be able to receive up to 15 hours of publicly funded personal and social legal advice from a lawyer, who will be able to advise on issues such as this, in addition to questions about access to the deceased's property and their children's belongings, residency orders, next of kin status as well as financial and benefits matters.

Violent Crime

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent crimes were recorded in each year since 1996  (a) in total,  (b) in Northamptonshire and  (c) in Wellingborough.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 3 July 2006
	The information requested is given in the tables. Since 1997, there have been two major changes to the way in which crime is recorded. The effect of the change in counting rules in 1998 was to artificially increase recorded violent crime nationally by more than 80 per cent. while it is estimated that the effect of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002 caused a further 20 per cent. increase in recorded violent crime in its first year.
	
		
			  Table 1: Recorded violent crime1996 and 1997 
			   Number of offences 
			   1996  1997 
			 England and Wales 344,766 347,064 
			 Northamptonshire 3,584 3,688 
			 Wellingborough n/a n/a 
			 n/a = not available. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Recorded violent crime1998-99 to 2001-02 
			   Number of offences 
			   1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			 England and Wales 605,797 703,107 733,374 813,121 
			 Northamptonshire 5,995 5,896 6,051 6,973 
			 Wellingborough n/a 960 878 913 
			 n/a = not available.   Notes:  1. The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997.  2. The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Recorded violent crime2002-03 to 2004-05 
			   Number of offences 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 England and Wales 991,563 1,109,016 1,184,702 
			 Northamptonshire 11,431 12,834 12,678 
			 Wellingborough 1,544 1,462 1,491 
			  Note:  The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Workers Registration Scheme

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those who registered under the Workers Registration Scheme have worked for 12 months or more in the United Kingdom.

Liam Byrne: The information is not available. The Worker Registration Scheme does not require those that register to notify the Home Office when they leave the UK.

Young Offenders

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of non-violent young offenders  (a) sent to prison and  (b) given alternatives to custody re-offended within two years of finishing their sentence in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Re-offending rates are not available for non-violent young offenders by disposal. The most recent information on the re-offending of juveniles living in England and Wales was published in June as Juvenile re-offending: results from the 2004 cohort. Home Office Statistical Bulletin 10/06. The report is available on line at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb1006.pdf.